Blood Drive Tuesday at Dean Dome

Volunteers from UNC and the community will hold a blood drive Tuesday at the Dean Smith Center, in conjunction with the Red Cross. They hope to collect over 800 pints of blood.

Someone who knows the importance of these blood drives is Robin Cyr. After suffering from an internal bleed last year, Cyr was in need a blood transfusion. But because of her blood type it was hard for her doctors to find a match. She remembers the agony of waiting.

“When you’re laying there worrying about getting stable to the point where you can have the procedure done so that you know you’re going to recover and be okay, that uncertainty was, I think, the most unnerving feeling I’ve ever experienced,” said Cyr.

If it weren’t for a blood donation, Cyr wouldn’t have been able to have an essential surgery.

“Whoever donated the blood that had the antibody match for me they really did save my life,” said Cyr.

According to Annette Prause from the Red Cross, blood donations are especially needed in the summer. About 20% of Red Cross blood donations come from high schools.

The goal for Tuesday’s blood drive is 830 pints of blood, but Prause said 1000 pints would be even better.

Just one blood donation can save up to three lives, like Cyr’s. After her surgery, she had a second blood transfusion.

“It was an incredible feeling to lay there watching the drips come down out of that bag because I could actually feel life coming back into my body and it was after that second transfusion that I knew I was going to be okay and be able to go home,” said Cyr.

If are unable to donate or just too needle shy, you can still can help.

“Whatever you can do, whether it’s volunteer your time, advertise, help promote or donate please do it,” said Cyr, “And to all of those that do donate, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heat.”

The blood drive will run from 7 am to 6 pm at the Smith Center on Tuesday.

‹

Carolina Blood Drive Marks 35th Year With More Than 500 Donors

Hundreds of Chapel Hill community members lined up at the Dean E. Smith Center on Wednesday — not for any athletic event, but to donate blood. The 35th annual Carolina Blood Drive set up their operations in the basketball arena once again, this time a month earlier than normal in an attempt to boost student […]

Red Cross Still Encouraging People to 'Roll Up Their Sleeves' in 2023

January is National Blood Donor Month, and although the Red Cross is no longer urgently calling for donations, there is always a need for blood. 

Carolina Blood Drive Returns to Full Operations for 34th Year

Typically, the floor of the Dean Smith Center is being used for basketball action. But as visitors walked into the arena Tuesday, the floor was filled with donation beds, chairs and snack stations for the 34th annual Carolina Blood Drive. Jen DeNeal spoke with people waiting to be double-red donors, or double the […]

Carolina Blood Drive Adds Donations to Prepare Supply for Winter Months

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Employee Forum and the American Red Cross held the annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive on Thursday, collecting blood donations to prepare for the winter months. Many community members visited Fetzer Hall on UNC’s campus to roll up their sleeves and donate, with organizers reporting afterward the event […]

Red Cross Prepared to Safely Host Carolina Blood Drive on Tuesday

Tuesday marks the 32nd annual Carolina Blood Drive hosted by the American Red Cross at the Dean E. Smith Center, an event facing new challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent interview with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck, Regional Donor Services executive for the American Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina, […]

Red Cross Urges Public to Donate Blood Amid Flu Season and COVID-19

As North Carolina enters a state of emergency amid coronavirus concerns, the Red Cross is working hard to keep up with the need for blood – not just during this outbreak and flu season, but every day. Maya Franklin is the external communications manager for blood services in eastern North Carolina. She said donors have […]

UNC Hosting 18th Annual Holiday Blood Drive

UNC and the American Red Cross are joining forces for the 18th Annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive on Tuesday. The blood drive is scheduled to run from 7:30 Tuesday morning until one o’clock in the afternoon in Fetzer Hall on South Road. The drive is sponsored by the Employee Forum and works to support the […]

OWASA Hosting Blood Drive Wednesday

Orange Water and Sewer Authority is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday at the OWASA administration building. The blood drive is scheduled to be held in the community room at OWASA’s 400 Jones Ferry Road location. OWASA officials say the summer time can be a difficult time for the American Red Cross as blood donations […]

American Red Cross to Hold Blood Drive Thursday

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the Orange Water and Sewage Authority on Thursday, June 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the community room on the lower floor of the Administration Building. The American Red Cross stresses the importance of a blood drive happening at this time of year. […]

Blood Drive Tuesday at Dean Dome

Volunteers from UNC and the community will hold a blood drive Tuesday at the Dean Smith Center, in conjunction with the Red Cross. They hope to collect over 800 pints of blood. Someone who knows the importance of these blood drives is Robin Cyr. After suffering from an internal bleed last year, Cyr was in need […]

›