Seventh annual ‘49ers4Life’ blood drive set for Jan. 26

January 11, 2016
Categories: General News Tags: Student Affairs, Student Life

UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff again will have the chance to team with the American Red Cross in a campus-wide effort to save lives. This year’s 49ers4Life blood drive, set for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center, has a collection goal of 1,000 pints.

According to organizers, giving a pint of blood is a meaningful act of kindness with the potential power to save three lives. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Accident victims, premature babies and patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses are among those dependent upon transfusions in order to survive.

Individuals who donate blood will receive a specially designed “I Bleed 49ers Green” T-shirt and will be entered in a drawing to win additional prizes, such as spirit gear from Barnes & Noble at UNC Charlotte, the campus bookstore.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit the website redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code 49ers4Life.

UNC Charlotte is among several North Carolina colleges and universities that hold blood drives with the American Red Cross, and school spirit adds a bit of competition to the drives. Appalachian State currently holds the system record for donors.

In previous 49ers4Life drives, students have been the driving force and the vast majority of donors. Increased participation from faculty, staff and alumni is encouraged.

Blood can be donated every 56 days. Platelets can be safely given every two weeks, up to 24 times a year. Most healthy people age 16 and older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets.

The 49ers4Life blood drive is supported by student groups, which include HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Student Government Association (SGA), 49er student-athletes, Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Zeta, Kappa Delta, Chi Omega, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma, men’s rugby, Zeta Tau Alpha, Kinesiology Student Organization, Public Health Association and MAPS.

University sponsors include business services, Barnes & Noble at UNC Charlotte, Chartwells, REPROS Copy Center, Union Station, mail and package services and the Student Union, Activities and Recreation Department.