By Versiti Blood Center of Michigan
When Michigan’s high school football players watch the Detroit Lions, they look up to the team in more ways than one. To these student athletes, the Lions are heroes not merely for their game-changing touchdown drives, but even more so for their difference-making blood drives.
A Versiti Blood Center of Michigan program gives those hardworking student athletes a way to follow their favorite players’ footsteps – and another way to compete against their rivals. Versiti’s Lions for Life program challenges high schools to host school blood drives during the summer months. The blood collected at these drives goes to local hospital patients in need, and $1,000 in grant money goes to the schools that collect the most of this valuable, life-giving resource (5 lucky winners!).
Blood Donation 101
Even though it’s the Lions’ offseason and schools are closed, summer is a time when there’s a high demand for blood at Michigan’s hospitals and clinics. In fact, the demand is high partly because schools are closed.
Did you know? More than 20% of Versiti’s blood supply comes from school blood drives, so Lions for Life is crucial for ensuring a safe, stable supply and making sure that no trauma victim, cancer survivor, sickle cell warrior or NICU baby who needs a blood transfusion ever goes without.
Here’s another blood donation stat: 620 units of blood are needed every day across Michigan. That’s a lot! But it’s an easier number to reach when our youth are putting their energy toward such an important cause. (Not that football isn’t important, but even the Lions know that some things transcend the game.)
Lifesaving SZN
Unfortunately, there’s no offseason for illness and injury. All year long, patients and their loved ones are counting on blood drives like yours to collect the blood they need to return to health. The good news is, saving lives is always in season.
As a coach, teacher, principal or other school official, you know how hard your players work to make an impact on the field. (Really, really hard!) Just think: If they work as hard to organize blood drives (with Versiti’s help, of course!), to donate blood, recruit fellow donors, and raise awareness of the need for blood, well, think of the impact they can make off the field, too!
Lions for Life sounds like the perfect way to spend your summer to us.
Are You Ready for Some Blood Drives?
So, ready to rally your school, save lives and make a direct difference in your community? Ready to make this summer unforgettable? Ready to host a lifesaving blood drive (or more) between Memorial Day and Labor Day?
Save lives. Make the Lions as proud of you as you are of them. Team up with the Lions and Versiti and join Lions for Life! Visit https://www.versiti.org/lions or contact Kaila DiNallo, kdinallo@versiti.org or 918-859-9632 for more information.