American Red Cross 'New York Get Away' Promotion

ATLANTA - Few places hold the cultural and historic significance of New York City, and now, as part of the American Red Cross "New York Get Away" promotion, one lucky donor from the Southern Region will have an opportunity to experience the Big Apple first hand just by giving blood or platelets between April 1 and April 30.

During the month of April, everyone who presents to donate blood or platelets at an American Red Cross blood drive or donor center will be entered into a regional drawing for a "New York Get Away" prize package, which includes two round-trip domestic tickets on Delta Air Lines, a two-night weekend stay at The New York Palace in New York City and two tickets to experience the heralded Blue Man Group while enjoying the sites and sounds New York City has to offer.

Blood, moreover blood donors, save lives. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood just to survive. Blood is not something that can be manufactured in a lab or pulled off the shelves when the need arises. The only source of life-saving blood is donors who give the gift of life by giving blood and platelets.

"Those who give blood, quite simply, give the gift of life," said Candice Gulden, American Red Cross Blood Services spokeswoman. "Thanks to donations from Delta Air Lines and Blue Man Group, we have the chance to give our donors, who so generously provide blood and platelets, the experience of a lifetime."

Because blood can be separated into three components - blood, platelets and plasma - one donation can benefit up to three individuals. Because it takes up to three days for blood to be processed and made available to hospitals, it is important that a donation be made ahead of an emergency. If everyone who was eligible would donate four times a year, there would never be a blood shortage.

The American Red Cross, Blood Services Southern Region, which supplies blood to approximately 130 hospitals, needs 1,200 blood donors each day in order to meet the needs of patients in the region. Blood donors must be at 17 years of age or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. Please call 1-800- GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.givebloodredcross.org to make an appointment.