The inaugural Philadelphia Union blood drive is on Saturday, July 24th at PPL Park in Chester, PA. Please consider donating! You can sign up at http://www.membersforlife.org/pennj/schedule/bdc_schedule.php?aid=725758 and if you would like to go at the same time as me, sign up for the 12:30 PM time slot. All donors will receive a limited edition Union scarf, an opportunity to take a picture with the ball that was used to score the first ever Union goal, free food and drink, an opportunity to check out the beautiful new stadium and more. You shouldn't need these to donate, but they are certainly great incentives. If you needed any other reasons to become a blood donor: -Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood -More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day -One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood -Total blood transfusions in a given year: 14 million Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S., 98% of whom are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives -More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. -A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. See more facts on blood needs for various medical treatments If you can not make this date, please consider donating at your local center. You can go to http://www.redcross.org/ to sign up for an appointment. Donations can be made every eight weeks.
Wish they were doing this on a game day. Would be a cool addition to the tailgate. Just have the beer line pass through the blood mobile. I give every time one of these things comes up where I work etc. Picked up that habit while I was in the Navy. In the military EVERYone donates blood.
I'll be there. I like that it's at PPL and getting a special edition scarf is a nice touch. I've been to the Phillies drives before and this looks to be a similar program. Always a cool event. Let's make sure the Union Phaithful repersent!!
I'll be there.. Signed up for 7a.m. slot. Its a great excuse to hang out @ PPL Park on a non-matchday.
I don't want to get on a soap box because I have never donated a pint of blood. A few times in my life I have had to give a vial or two to my doctor -- far less than a pint -- and I've always struggled with it. I haven't fainted, but I feel terrible and come close. Basically, I've hated the experience. Having said all that, today I signed up to give blood and so I'm going to try and give a pint on Saturday. The key points everyone should be aware of are: 1. There are still a lot spots left (including in the late morning/early afternoon). 2. A picture of what I assume is the scarf is on the bottom of the front page of the union website. The scarf says "Union Blood Drive" in large letters. I think that's cool. I have a variety of scarves from various teams but if I don't pass out on Saturday this one will be special.
Good On YA K.P! Giving Blood isn't bad at all... just relax... people get themselves all worked up and that's when you have a bad time. What time are you donating?
Another 133 Illegitimate representing the section.... I'm in for 8:45!! First time donating...... it's a worthy cause and for the Union.....I'm all in
I feel guilty because I REALLY want that scarf, but I'm not going to earn it. I'd definitely be willing to give blood, but tomorrow's date just doesn't work for me... I hope they do another of these in the future so I have another chance; I wouldn't feel right trading for that or buying one from someone - this one is something you have to rightfully earn.
Like the Phillies and Flyers/Sixers, I'm sure the Red Cross would like to have the Union host one every year. I just hope this one is successful for them. It seems like there is a lot of open spots still which is unfortunate.
Ventur514, hope your conscious by the time I get there at 145 because I'll try and zap you with some electricity from the defibrillator lol
Thanks to those who wrote encouraging words above. Things went well and I am now the proud owner of another Union scarf. I had an 11:45 time slot but it took much longer to do everything. I definitely underestimated what a big operation a blood drive is. Anyway, I'm really happy the team did this... without the scarf I'm not sure I would have gotten over the hump and donated my first pint. My only surprise was that they didn't have the team store open -- I was looking to pick up some other gear while I was there!
I did a 7am slot and found that Red Cross staff and volunteers actually made it a very enjoyable experience. Scarf was a nice incentive, but getting a private PPL park tour by a couple of the Molly Cam girls was worth the donation. I'll be there for the next drive for sure. Also I noticed that Andrew Jacobson had a Sons of Ben scarf hanging in his locker, I thought that was way cool.
I think you may have been on table parallel to me, I was against the wall. If I remember correctly you were pretty much finishing up as I was getting started. I definitely remember the shirt, been wanting to get one myself. Any word on how many turned out to donate? Someone on facebook said they didn't get a scarf because they ran out, which made me glad I was there early.
I was the last one to donate... VERY last one and I got a Scarf... I think you needed to have the confirmation of your appointment to get a scarf... I just showed them my printout from the RED CROSS email... Didn't get to do the tour though.