By Linda Provost, Sports Writer
There will be a chance to see if you really do bleed blue today with an American Red Cross blood drive. The event will be from 1 to 5 p.m. in the lobby of Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.
The organizer of this blood drive is Jake Fox, kinesiology sophomore. Fox was a participant of the 2010-11 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. He was selected as one of 13 student athletes from the United States that help promote the Red Cross strategy of moving from awareness to action. Part of his training was learning how to run a blood drive.
“As a part of the program we get a scholarship and the requirements are having at least two blood drives,” Fox said. “My campaign is ‘bleed blue’ because we want the whole campus involved.”
Tessa Stutzman, religious education junior, said she has never donated blood before so this will be her first time.
“There has never been a reason for me not to donate so I figured now is a good time to start,” she said. “I’m also looking forward to finding out what blood type I am.”
Fox said he hopes that the blood drives will become something more permanent on campus with the starting of a Red Cross club.
“I want to start a Red Cross club sometime soon,” he said. “We would be a service club and help the Red Cross with blood drives and fund-raising for disaster relief.”
Persons must wait one year after receiving a tattoo to donate and six months after receiving a piercing.
Walk-ins are welcome, but to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or e-mail Fox at jfox@my.okcu.edu.
The American Red Cross website offers the following tips for donors:
- Maintain a healthy iron level in your diet
- Hydrate – drink an extra 16 oz of liquid before and after your donation
- Have a healthy meal before your donation – avoid foods high in fat just prior to donation
- Remember to bring your ID
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