Michael Jordan (Photo by Megan Authement)
In Motion: Share a Pint with The Blood Connection
By Teryn Worsham
Did you know that a single donation of blood can save as many as three lives? Founded in 1962 by a group of doctors, The Blood Connection (TBC) is a nonprofit blood collection and distribution service that serves more than two dozen hospitals in Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Based in Asheville, Michael Jordan works as the business development and public relations representative for TBC. He remarks on how generous Asheville’s residents are: “People have been just opening their doors to us. That’s my favorite thing—you see the beautiful side of people come out.”
Along with its permanent donation centers in Greenville, Seneca, Greenwood, Spartanburg, Easley, and Hendersonville, The Blood Connection collects blood through a mobile service that deploys 13 buses called bloodmobiles. The buses cover an area stretching from Greenwood, South Carolina, north to Mitchell County, and west to Murphy, collecting donations at mobile blood drives.
Nearly all buses are deployed every day to blood drives throughout the region. It only takes a matter of minutes for a donor to give about a pint of blood. Where does all this lifesaving blood go? The Blood Connection is the sole provider of blood to 28 hospitals throughout upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. These include the local VA Medical Center, Pardee, Park Ridge, and Mission.
Speaking of pints, The Blood Connection is teaming up with local breweries for a brewery blood drive tour. With the help of Mike Rangel, president of Asheville Brewing Company, The Blood Connection will pair donation buses with breweries throughout the Asheville area. This month’s tour dates include July 28 at The Green Mansion, August 4 at Catawba Brewing Company, August 11 at Wedge Brewing Company, August 18 at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Big Top, and August 25 at Wicked Weed. Buses will be located in front of breweries from 4–9 p.m., and donors will receive a limited edition “I Bleed AVL” pint glass and T-shirt.
Though each donation requires little time and effort, several factors make maintaining blood supplies a challenge. Blood has a shelf-life of around 42 days, and donors can only give every 56 days. “We need 405 units (equivalent to 405 pints) every day,” he says, adding that regularly giving blood carries many possible health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and lowering blood pressure.
If you’re looking for even more incentives for donating blood, you’ll be happy to hear that TBC thanks their donors by way of gifts and a donor incentive program. Donors are issued a card and can accumulate reward points that are redeemable online for e-gift cards to major retailers throughout the region.
You can locate a blood drive in your area by using The Blood Connection’s online locator tool. You can also host a blood drive through work or school.
“I have a goal, and my goal is very clear,” says Michael. “I want to make Asheville the highest city per capita in blood donation in America. I believe that’s entirely possible.”
To locate or host a blood drive, email Michael at mjordan@thebloodconnection.org. For more information, including a calendar of local drives, visit thebloodconnection.org or call 800.392.6551.
