WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C. United announced today it will host a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Tuesday, July 18. The drive will take place at the Sterling Safety Center, located at 47600 Middlefield Drive in Sterling, VA, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. D.C. United players Alecko Eskandarian and Rod Dyachenko will be in attendance and available to sign autographs and take photos from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.
"People who are eligible to donate blood can actually do so as often as every 56 days," said Catherine Marquette, D.C. United's Director of Community Relations and Executive Director of United for D.C. "Regardless, our region finds itself in a blood supply shortage. D.C. United hopes that by supporting a blood drive, it can do a small part in raising awareness about the need to donate blood."
An extension of D.C. United's "United Drives" campaigns, D.C. United will be giving all people who donate that day special 'Buy One, Get One Free' ticket vouchers, good for any 2006 regular season home game, as a thank you for their "gift of life." The American Red Cross will have other items, such as t-shirts, for the donors as well. Everyone who stops by will also be entered into a raffle to win a team-autographed ball.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Regions stated that as of July 12, the following blood types have reached a critical blood supply level in the region: O-positive (0.2 day supply), 0-negative (0.3 day supply), B-positive (1 day supply), B-negative (0.5 day supply) and A-negative (1.5 day supply). A safe, desired blood supply is five to seven days worth of any given blood type, in order to meet local patient need and maintain an adequate reserve in the event of an emergency.
Most Americans are actually eligible to be blood donors, but surprisingly, only five percent of the population donates. To find out if you are eligible to donate blood, please visit www.my-redcross.org/html/DonorEligibility.asp. For more information on the state of the blood supply in the Washington, D.C. region or for general information, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.my-redcross.org.
For more information on the United Drives program or any of D.C. United's community relations initiatives, please visit www.dcunited.com or contact Catherine Marquette at 202-587-5443.
