SAVE A LIFE AND GO FAR WITH CITGO
Red Cross blood and platelet donors can win a $1,500 gas card in June

(Thursday, June 1, 2006) ATLANTA – Donating blood or platelets this June will not only help save lives, but also enable a lucky donor to fuel up and save on gas. All participants at American Red Cross blood or platelet drives during June can register to win a $1,500 CITGO gift card good toward the purchase of gasoline.  One gas card will be awarded and participants can register for a chance to win every time they donate.

“We are grateful to CITGO for offering this wonderful incentive for people to donate blood and platelets this summer,” said Candice Gulden, spokesperson for American Red Cross Blood Services Southern Region.  “Every donation is very important to us and we want donors to know how much we appreciate their gift of life.  It is always exciting when we are able to give something back to our generous donors.”

Between May and September the Red Cross sees a big drop in the blood supply. Since college and high school students, who account for about 15 percent of all blood donations, are out of school and other donors leave for vacation, fewer donations are made during the summer. Patients’ need for blood, though, is ongoing and the American Red Cross in the Southern Region must have 1,200 people give blood each weekday to meet hospital demand. If all eligible donors gave blood twice a year, there would never be summer shortages.

Blood is needed by about four million people in the United States each year, and the overwhelming majority would die without it. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source. Every day, accident victims as well as patients with cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell anemia and other illnesses must receive life-saving transfusions.

Blood and platelets donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds.  It is safe to give blood every 56 days and platelets every two weeks.  To learn more about Save a Life and Go Far with CITGO, or to find a convenient place to donate, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org. Please check our web site in July for the name of the CITGO winner.

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