The American Red Cross wants you to PUMP Up The Volume!
The annual PUMP Up The Volume Salina Community Blood Drive is scheduled for noon to 7 p.m. June 28-29 and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. June 30 at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 825 E. Beloit Avenue. The blood drive is sponsored by Eagle Radio and its entities: 99 KG, 94.5 Prime FM, KINA, and Salina Post.
Radio listeners are challenged to donate during the three-day drive and vote for their favorite participating radio station. The winning station receives bragging rights and a traveling trophy to display for a year.
Since 2010, the Pump Up the Volume Blood Drive has raised more than 4,125 donations, according to information from the American Red Cross. This year’s goal is 234 donations.
Healthy donors are asked to make an appointment to give at this year’s Pump Up the Volume Blood Drive by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
All who donate June 14-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card by email. Restrictions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/SummerFullOfLife.
According to the American Red Cross, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented challenges to blood donations and in the care and treatment of cancer patients. The Red Cross continues to feel the ongoing effects of COVID-19 as each month roughly 1,000 drives are canceled, impacting the collection of approximately 30,000 units of lifesaving blood.
Additionally, the American Cancer Society reported that many patient visits and procedures were forced to be delayed or canceled early in the pandemic to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. According to the American Cancer Society, while cancer deaths dropped at the onset of the pandemic, those rates will likely increase in the months and years to come due to delays in diagnosis and treatment
This June, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society are teaming up to encourage people across the country to Give Blood to Give Time. Many cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, will likely have a need for blood products. When donors give blood or platelets to the Red Cross, they’re helping cancer patients receive the care they need.