JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars and OneBlood teamed up Saturday to hold the 8th annual “Touchdown for Life” blood drive to help make a difference in the Jacksonville area and beyond.
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Setting aside some time to donate blood on the big red buses was a no-brainer for so many.
Carmen Colon and Jeffrey Jones were some of those people.
“I like to donate blood. I know that when people need it, whether it’s an accident or anything like that, I know they need it. I am always ready to do it,” Colon said.
Jones said he believes in the mission behind blood drives like this.
“I believe in what they are doing. It is important and I give intermittently throughout the year. Not just at this event here. Whenever I see the big red buses in my community, if I have time, I stop in and donate,” Jones said.
Outside EverBank Stadium, more than 1,000 people donated blood — something that comes at a critical time, according to Pat Michaels with One Blood.
“During the summer we have high schools, colleges, universities not in session. That accounts for about a fifth of the donations that we get at One Blood. Also, people are on vacation, they are traveling, and they are not donating,” Michaels said. “Blood donation and the need for blood never takes a vacation. Hospitals have patients, whether it be routine surgeries that might have emergencies or traumas. That is always going on. That blood will be reaching a patient within three to five days And it is always needed.”
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Michaels said any blood type was gladly accepted but O Negative, which is the universal blood type, and O Positive is what 38% of the population has.
A single donation is able to help save three lives.
That was one of the reasons Makeitha Bryant said is grateful she was able to do this for the first time.
“Just being able to help out our fellow neighbors. I am a Christian so we love to help,” Bryant said.
Each person who made a donation got a black Jaguar T-shirt. They also got a free ticket to one of four upcoming Jaguars games this season.
Regardless of the perks, those at the blood drive knew what the priority was.
“It could help them during the surgery, an emergency, trauma. It could actually save their life,” Michaels said.
Jones said donating is all about helping others.
“I just know that what I am doing is helping. It is about being a good provider and just someone who does good things in their community because to me that makes the difference,” Jones said.
To find a OneBlood donor center or Big Red Bus blood drive and to make an appointment visit, oneblood.org.