Comcast-Spectacor ask fans to donate blood on December 5 - 11/30/2009

Comcast-Spectacor asks fans to donate blood on December 5

Donors have a chance to win a trip to see the Flyers or Sixers on the road

Philadelphia, Pa. – November 30, 2009 – Comcast-Spectacor, the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment, is encouraging fans of both the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers to donate blood to the American Red Cross during the company’s fourth annual Blood Drive at the Wachovia Center on Saturday, December 5 from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All presenting blood donors will receive either a limited edition Flyers Jeff Carter or Sixers Lou Williams autographed poster. In addition, each donor will be entered into a raffle to win one of three all inclusive trips to Boston, MA, to see the Flyers and the Boston Bruins in the NHL’s Bridgestone Winter Classic on Friday, January 1, 2010. Also, one donor will win an all inclusive trip to see the 76ers play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday, March 19, 2010.

“During the holiday season it is important to remember to give back and to help those less fortunate,” said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. “The American Red Cross does wonderful things to help so many people around the world and we encourage our fans to help by giving blood.”

“We thank Comcast-Spectacor for helping to save lives in the community, and hope to turn many fans into life-saving blood donors,” said Brigid O'Neill-LaGier, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “The upcoming blood drive is vitally important to build a sufficient supply of blood that will help safeguard against a winter blood shortage.”

The holiday period – from Thanksgiving through New Year’s – is often a challenging time to maintain sufficient blood supplies. Inclement weather, outbreaks of cold and flu and the busyness of the holidays may result in low donor turnout, which could lead to blood shortages.

Comcast-Spectacor hopes their fans can contribute 1,500 units of blood to offset these factors and help the Red Cross maintain a sufficient blood supply.

Everyone interested must make a blood donation appointment by visiting pleasegiveblood.org or calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543). A limited number of appointments are available, so make yours today!

Last year Philadelphia sports fans turned out in record numbers helping the American Red Cross collect over 1,400 units of blood that was used to help provide a second chance for an accident victim, a new beginning for a cancer patient, or a better tomorrow for a child with sickle cell disease.

Most healthy people who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate whole blood every 56 days. In January of 2008 a law went into effect in the state of Pennsylvania that allows 16-year-old donors to donate blood with parental or legal guardian written consent. Donors can give blood at any one of nearly 200 blood drives sponsored by business and community groups in southeastern Pennsylvania and in New Jersey weekly, or at one of nine community donor centers.