THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290468
SECTION: MISCELLANEOUS PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 63 lines
Hoping to collect 350 units of blood in one stretch, the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding its first blood drive marathon.
The event will be held Friday from 7 a.m. to midnight at the Holiday Inn, 8 Crawford Parkway.
Red Cross executive director Robert J. Weaver says the marathon is being held in celebration of National Donors Month.
``We also wanted to involve the community a little bit more than we have in the past,'' said Weaver, who became director of the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter last July. ``We've promoted the blood program, but we really haven't gone out and pushed a real event within the community.''
Additionally, Weaver is hoping the drive will convert the occasional donor into one who contributes on a regular basis.
``It's hard to increase your numbers very easily,'' he said. ``People just don't say, `I'm going to go give blood today.' I don't even do that.''
There are others, however, who do. Some folks give blood as often as every 56 days, Weaver said.
``They're a very religious group when it comes to donating blood,'' he said. ``As a matter of fact, when we reschedule a blood drive, they get upset.''
The marathon is being modeled after a similar event held recently in New England.
``We had sent one of our volunteers to Maine during the floods up there, and their blood supply got very low,'' Weaver said. ``They immediately launched into a blood marathon, and it was highly successful.''
Weaver says the marathon ``showed that the Red Cross was in the community doing something, that the Red Cross cared about the community and the Red Cross got the community involved.''
All blood types are needed for Friday's marathon.
``Anything we can get is important,'' Weaver said, adding that the blood supply is typically very low in January.
``We make a big push around the holidays, and January becomes a very slow month,'' he explained.
Severe weather in the Pacific Northwest, declining blood donations and depleted blood inventories prompted the Red Cross to send out a nationwide appeal earlier this month for more donors.
``It's bad news, but it helps this particular cause,'' said Mary Johnson, who recruits volunteers to staff Red Cross blood drives.
The Red Cross needs about 20 donors an hour to reach its goal of 350 units. To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper-age limit for donors, and donors may give blood every 56 days.
Friday's donors will receive free T-shirts and food.
A local radio station will broadcast live, updating listeners throughout the day on how close the Red Cross is to its goal.
Portsmouth Mayor James W. Holley III also will be on hand to issue a proclamation. ILLUSTRATION: BLOOD DRIVE
What: Portsmouth's first Blood Drive Marathon.
When: 7 a.m. to midnight Friday.
Where: Holiday Inn, 8 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth.
Information: 393-1031 or (800) GIVE-LIFE.