Indiana’s biggest one-day blood drive at Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, Indiana – The 25th annual Bleed Blue Blood Drive was held on Friday by the Indianapolis Colts and Versiti Blood Center of Indiana.

Lucas Oil Stadium hosted what is regarded as the state’s largest one-day blood drive.

Giving is encouraged during the holidays, but hospitals also need to act quickly. Despite the continual need, blood donations tend to decrease during this time of year.

The event attracted hundreds of donors to Versiti Blood Center of Indiana. Three thousand Hoosiers are hoped to be spared.

According to Versiti’s director of donor services, Denena Edwards, “the need for blood never goes away.” It is one of those items that cannot be replaced. It cannot be manufactured. All you have is blood. Therefore, blood donors are needed. We invite you to come and donate. Three lives are saved by a single gift.

Donors can choose to donate whole blood, which is usually given to trauma patients or those having surgery, or double red cell donation, which involves giving red blood cells to people who have suffered blood loss, have sickle cell anemia, are newborns, or need emergency transfusions during delivery.

Getting blood is a gift that can change Lena Harvey’s life because she has sickle cell anemia.
Harvey remarked, “That gave me the impression that there was a superhero out there ready to save my life.” I’ve experienced that more than once. I want people to realize that it is practically impossible to synthesize blood. No substitute exists.

Harvey has been dependent on donor blood transfusions since he was born with the illness.

Harvey claimed that sickle cells in particular put you through a lot. “Being surrounded by people who are committed to improving my life and its quality, particularly during the holiday season, feels good.”

Zachary Dutra is making his first donation today. While at the stadium with a friend, he made the decision to donate his double red blood cells. He claimed that the procedure is much simpler than he had anticipated.

Dutra remarked, “It feels good.” “It’s comforting to know that even a small amount of our time and blood can make a difference.”

Each contributor received a limited-edition Colts football as a token of appreciation from the organization, and they will all be entered to win two front-row seats to the Colts season finale.
After today, Edwards hopes that donors of all blood types will still come forward.

“Every one of them is necessary,” Edwards stated. “We need all of them if you don’t have O negative, but those with that are always good. Everything is significant at this time of year, particularly around the holidays.

A Colts camp will host the next mini Bleed Blue Drive in February.

“You become a true superhero as soon as you do it, so you have not just one cape but up to three,” Harvey remarked.