Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Blood drives to show school spirit, meet need for blood

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Do you bleed red and black, blue and gold, blue and orange or crimson and gold? If so, there is a way to show school spirit and it doesn’t involve painting your face and screaming yourself hoarse.

The American Red Cross is once again hosting the Thanksgiving Big Drive and having fans of the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, the University of Florida and Florida State University compete in a blood drive to see which school can collect more blood for the American Red Cross.

Result will be based on the overall percentage of the total blood donated based on each school’s population. The South Metro Donor Center at 675 Southcrest Parkway in Stockbridge, across Ga. Highway 138 from Garden Ridge, will host the drive Nov. 29 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Most healthy people, age 17 and older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, can donate blood. The process takes approximately an hour and includes a min-physical that checks blood pressure, temperature and pulse. If every eligible donor donated blood at least twice a year, there would never be any seasonal shortages. Phone 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givelife.org for more information.