23rd ANNUAL OPERATION BLOOD DRIVE TO BE HELD THURSDAY, JUNE 24TH; WLOS & THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO HOST EVENT AT TWO LOCATION
  

For 23 years, the American Red Cross and WLOS-TV 13 have teamed up to hold one of the largest blood drives in western North Carolina. Operation Blood Drive is an annual event that allows area residents to give back to their community by donating blood and saving lives.

This year’s Operation Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, June 24^th from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at two Western North Carolina locations:

• Trinity Baptist Church

216 Shelburne Road

Asheville, NC

(Appointments to donate can be made by calling 828-258-3888, Ext. 402 OR by visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code 10411)

• Grace Lutheran Church

1245 Sixth Avenue West

Hendersonville, NC

(Appointments to donate can be made by calling 828-693-5605 OR by visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code 6304)

This year’s drive has set an objective to collect 555 units of lifesaving blood for patients in need. All presenting donors will receive a special edition Operation Blood Drive t-shirt.

During the busy summer season, the blood supply often suffers. With donors on vacation and preoccupied with other summer activities, collections tend to take a dip, but the Red Cross hopes to avoid a shortage this summer by asking donors to join together in making giving the “Gift of Life” a part of their summer plans.

“Operation Blood Drive helps provide the boost we need in the summer months,” said Patrick Fitzsimmons, regional executive of the American Red Cross in Western North Carolina.  “Our hope is that, just as they have in previous years, donors will take the time to come out and give back to the community this summer by donating blood.”

The American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet the needs of the hospitals it serves.  Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive life-saving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days.  Platelets can be given safely every two weeks, up to 24 times a year.  Most healthy people age 17 and older (16 with parental consent), who weigh at least 110 pounds (depending on height), are eligible to donate blood and platelets

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