Turning 50 in the middle of a pandemic really stinks. I can’t have a big party, or even organize an in-person community service event.
But I CAN challenge my friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and social media contacts to give a gift that can truly save lives: Give blood or plasma, or give your time to spread the word about the importance of giving blood.
It’s called a SleevesUp virtual blood drive. Together, we’ll track our pledges, cheer each other on, and, most importantly, provide a lifesaving gift for patients in need.
I have been giving blood since college, but the pandemic has shown me just how fragile our nation’s blood supply is. The University of Michigan medical center, where I work, was extremely short of blood this past spring – and now we’re treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma donated by people who have recovered from the disease. (I wrote about this in June: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/hospitals-cant-get-back-to-normal-without-more-blood-here-are-7-ways-you-can )
I know that not everyone can give blood, for whatever reason. But you CAN spread the word!
And if you or someone you know has recovered from COVID-19, you can donate plasma to be given to others who are infected.
To get started, make your pledge by clicking the red button above, and then visit redcrossblood.org to schedule your donation appointment. You can give at a locally hosted blood drive or at a permanent Red Cross blood donation center.
The impact we can make together is the best gift I can imagine! Thanks for helping celebrate my birthday and for helping save patient lives with your generous gift. Please pledge to give blood today!
If you’re in the Ann Arbor area, and can give blood before Nov. 25, you can help meet my goal AND help U-M beat Ohio State in the annual Blood Battle!
Learn more: https://www.bloodbattle.org/
Find a drive between Oct. 28 and Nov. 25 where your donation will count toward U-M’s total: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=goblue
Challenge your friends (or anyone for that matter) to a friendly competition! Who will win the battle to do the most social good for your community?
Put your virtual blood drive campaign against one or even multiple other campaigns to see who can recruit more blood donors for the American Red Cross.
