'WAVES' OF BLOOD DONORS PROVIDE A RECORD TURNOUT AT BEACH BLANKET BLOOD DRIVE
With theme "Fishing for Blood Donors - Hooked on Saving Lives," two-day event 'reeled' in 655 blood donors
Ocean City, MD - It snowed. There were blustery winds, freezing rain, and heavy fog. But despite the challenging weather conditions, 655 people registered to give blood in the 11th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive - the most recorded in the history of the event - at the Ocean City Convention Center on January 27 and 28.
"We were worried that the bad weather would hurt participation at the event, but that was definitely not the case," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "It was incredible to see hundreds of people leave the warmth of their homes and offices, pile into the Convention Center, and give blood to support the community and save lives. We are so grateful."
The blood drive was established to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors; the 2008 drive registered 640 donors - a former record high.
The Beach Blanket Blood Drive is sponsored by the Town of Ocean City, which has donated the use of the Convention Center since the event's inception. The co-sponsor is the Coastal Association of REALTORS, which helps promote the event and provides dozens of volunteers for the information tables and canteen. Several Ocean City businesses donated thousands of dollars worth of food and beverages to the canteen (post-blood donation area) and helped underwrite the cost of the free t-shirts provided to every registered donor.
