Race to Donate
Some people have a need for speed. Others have a need to do good. Now they can satisfy those cravings at the same time.
Every two seconds (how’s that for fast?), someone in America needs blood. The American Red Cross has launched Red Cross Racing (www.redcrossracing.com), a new site to help recruit NASCAR fans as blood donors and raise awareness of the need to give blood. Site visitors can schedule blood-donation appointments and find out how frequent donors can earn points redeemable for Red Cross Racing gear like caps, T-shirts and die-cast cars.
A Red Cross trailer will be on the midway at nine upcoming NASCAR events, including races in Loudon, NH; Chicago; Fort Worth, TX; and Talladega, AL. All participants who sign up between April 24 and Oct. 1 are automatically entered in a sweepstakes for an all-expense-paid trip for two to a race in Phoenix on Nov. 9.
People can give blood up to six times a year, or every 56 days, according to the Red Cross. Yet only about 37% of blood donors give more than once each year.
