Blood donors earn chances to win ACC ball
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on January 5, 2006 1:49 PM
During January and February, donating blood will give Wayne County people the chance to win a signed ACC basketball.
The ACC Basketball Blood Donor Challenge will start with the first blood drive of the year, today at Oak Forest Church, and end with the last one next month, Feb. 24, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Everyone who gives blood at one of Wayne County's blood drives will have his or her name entered into one of three drawings for a men's team signed ACC basketball from either Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or North Carolina State University.
"With such strong ACC ties in our area, we expect this to be a well-received challenge," said Samia Garner, blood services director for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross. "We're just trying to think of ways to give back to our donors."
The opportunity to win one of these signed basketballs is only being offered in Wayne County and only during this 56-day period.
"Throughout the ACC Blood Donor Challenge, there will be various other giveaways and drawings to let our donors know how much we appreciate them," Mrs. Garner said.
She said the schools are "happy to be on board with us to promote blood donations during those two months."
The balls go for thousands of dollars at auctions, Mrs. Garner said.
"Since donors are allowed to give blood only every 56 days, each donor during January and February will have only once chance of entering the drawing," she said. "That increases your odds of winning."
Mrs. Garner explained that January is an extremely challenging time for blood collections because of recent holiday travel, school closings, winter illnesses and other factors that shrink the donor pool. However, the need for blood is still there.
"The American Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to give blood so that hospital patients are not at risk for going without blood they need to make a full recovery," Mrs. Garner said. "Despite the advances in medical science, there is still no substitute for blood -- the gift of life that only volunteer donors can give."
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. A photo identification is required when giving blood.
For more information about the ACC Basketball Blood Donor Challenge, contact the local Red Cross at 735-7201.
Here is the Bloodmobile schedule for January and February:
*Today from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Oak Forest Road Church.
*Jan. 10 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross chapter house, 600 N. George St.
*Jan. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Excell Linde and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at O'Berry Center.
*Jan. 12 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Medical Center.
*Jan. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Olive College.
*Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Social Security office.
*Jan. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Berkeley Mall.
*Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 3HC and from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Seven Springs Rescue Squad.
*Jan. 26 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Goldsboro Milling Co., from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross chapter house sponsored by the Goldsboro Jaycees and from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Eureka United Methodist Church.
*Feb. 2 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at New Hope United Methodist Church.
*Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Wayne Country Day School.
*Feb. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spring Creek High School.
*Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Greenleaf Church.
*Feb. 14 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross chapter house, 600 N. George St.
*Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lowe's.
*Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Wayne Community College.
*Feb. 23 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross chapter house, 600 N. George St.
*Feb. 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wayne Memorial Hospital.