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Hundreds Donate to 'Broadcasters for Blood'

Posted: 5:20 PM Jan 7, 2013
Reporter: Chris Stover

Hundreds Donate to "Broadcasters for Blood"

January 7, 2013

Nearly 300 people in the Charlottesville area donated blood Monday as part of the Broadcasters for Blood drive at the Omni Hotel.

The 12-hour event, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., was sponsored by the Charlottesville Newsplex and the Charlottesville Radio Group.

Virginia Blood Services reports that one donation of blood can save as many as three lives. Also, one in seven people who go to the hospital need blood. With the 276 donations received on Monday, as many as 828 potential lives could be saved.

"This time of year is extremely important for donations because we usually see about a 25 percent dip in donations due to holiday travel," said Joshua Smith, communications manager for Virginia Blood Services. "People are gone, they're out, they're not coming in to donate. So events like these are so important to help keep up with the demand for blood."

All the donated blood stays in Virginia. Virginia Blood Services distributes the blood to 25 hospitals in the commonwealth.

Those who donated had the opportunity win a number of raffle prizes, including the big-ticket item, a 46-inch television.