INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Blood Center will kick off the 12th annual Bleed Blue Blood Drive and Health Fair, presented by CardioCheck and supported by ADVANTAGE Health and WTHR Channel 13, on Saturday, December 10, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The event is the largest single-day blood drive each year in Indiana.
Unlike in years past, the 2011 Bleed Blue Blood Drive will take place on a Saturday to make it convenient for more Indiana families to attend.
Colts fans will want to act quickly to sign up for one of 2,500 donor appointments available. Appointments are required and donors can schedule at an open time by visiting www.colts.com/bleedblue. Participating donors will receive a regulation-sized Colts football featuring Colts center Jeff Saturday, and a special discount at the Colts Pro Shop.
"I've seen firsthand the good that comes when you raise your sleeve and donate blood, whether it's for a friend or family member fighting cancer or simply for the act of helping fellow Hoosiers in need," said Saturday. "While you're supporting a good cause, this event also gives dedicated and die-hard Colts fans a place to channel their enthusiasm and experience Lucas Oil Stadium from field level."
Colts cheerleaders and the mascot Blue will be on-site throughout the day to sign autographs and meet fans and blood donors. Attendees will have access to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to toss footballs, attempt field goals and for open play.
A Bleed Blue Fest health fair on Lucas Oil Plaza and along the concourse will run simultaneous to the blood drive. IU Health and other organizations will offer free screenings and health information for attendees. Individuals not able to donate blood are still welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in the health fair and other free festivities at the stadium, including zumba and fitness classes. Free parking will also be available in the Tire Barn South Lot at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indiana Blood Center will continue Bleed Blue, offering Jeff Saturday limited-edition footballs, from December 15 to January 15 on mobile blood drives across the state and on rotating days at its nine donor centers. Dates for the drives and donor center events will be announced on December 10 at the Bleed Blue kickoff event and online at indianablood.org/bleedblue. The annual, month-long Bleed Blue Blood Drive traditionally attracts more than 5,000 donors to Indiana Blood Center each December, a time when blood supplies can get critically low due to the holidays and fewer donors.
To schedule an appointment at Bleed Blue on December 10, visit www.colts.com/bleedblue or call Indiana Blood Center at 800-632-4722.
About Indiana Blood Center
Indiana Blood Center was founded in 1952 and is a non-profit community service organization meeting patient's blood needs at over 60 hospitals across Indiana, by seeing 550 volunteer blood donors each day. The goal is met with the help of the nearly 4,000 organizations who host blood drives in 80 of Indiana's 92 counties and through the dedication of the 450 Indiana Blood Center staff who live the daily mission of delivering a constant, stable supply of blood components to patients in Indiana hospitals. Indiana Blood Center is the largest independent blood center in Indiana and among the top 20 nationally, distributing more than 150,000 blood components each year.
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Indianapolis Colts
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The franchise has won four World Championships. Since relocating to Indianapolis, the Colts have won nine division titles, including five consecutive AFC South crowns from 2003-07. The Colts are the only NFL team to have 12 victories in seven consecutive seasons. The Colts won 115 regular-season games from 2000-09, the highest decade total in NFL history, and the team's 23 consecutive regular-season wins (2008-09) set another NFL record. The club won Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season, and the Colts reached Super Bowl XLIV after winning the AFC title during the 2009 season.
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The Indianapolis Colts take great pride in playing an active role in the community and are committed to corporate citizenship throughout Indiana. Leading by example, we hope to encourage and inspire our fellow Hoosiers to participate in the practice of giving back. Our goal is to create lasting philanthropic partnerships and maximize those relationships for the betterment of our community, thus, building a legacy of goodwill as we share the heart behind the horseshoe.
