Resolve for 2020: Support 49ers4Life

A New Year’s resolution that is easily kept and successfully accomplished before the end of January does exist.

Start 2020 off in a meaningful way, by rolling up a sleeve at the annual 49ers4Life Blood Drive. This year’s drive, in its 11th year, will be a two-day event: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.

The 49ers4Life Blood Drive is the official collegiate mega-drive held in conjunction with the American Red Cross and coordinated by several student organizations with support from various University units. Presenting donors will receive a free, long-sleeved T-shirt and refreshments from local restaurants. Door prizes include two annual UNCC parking permits (one student, one faculty/staff), and several Charlotte 49ers prize packages from Barnes & Noble at UNC Charlotte.

According to the American Red Cross, one pint of blood can help save up to three lives. Here’s what that means in terms of life-saving value to real people: the 10 previous 49ers4Life drives have helped more people than can fill the University’s Jerry Richardson Stadium. If the January 2020 drive reaches the 700-pint goal, one-fourth of Halton Arena’s capacity can be added to that total.

To make an appointment to give, go to redcrossblood.org, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app (search 49ers4Life) or call 1-800-733-2767.

Ashley Collier, American Red Cross blood services donor recruitment district manager, said, “This drive is being driven by diverse student groups with support from University partners who will help bring in blood donors who represent the diversity of the campus. Hopefully, this combination will result in meeting the goal of 700 units of blood, which will help 2,100 strangers in need of help.”