SONOMA, Calif. (May 24, 2016) - Sonoma Raceway will partner with Blood Centers of the Pacific to help save lives one ride at a time during the 16th annual verihealth High Speed Blood Drive on Tuesday, May 31.
Sonoma Raceway puts a non-traditional spin on blood drives by giving donors a chance to get their hearts pumping with a "hot lap" around the course prior to donating blood. Donors will ride along with a professional driving instructor in an official raceway Toyota Camry around the 12-turn road course. The popular event will run from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at the raceway.
Walk-ups are welcome, but appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled at www.bloodheroes.com; enter the sponsor code "Sonoma Raceway."
"Donating blood is important because it helps save lives. It can benefit so many people and it's selfless," said San Anselmo's Adrienne Barberich, who donated blood for the first time in 2015. "My favorite part of the day was definitely the hot lap. The way you are thrown around the car was crazy."
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) supplies blood to 50 hospitals throughout Northern California, and conducts medical research to improve blood safety. BCP needs to collect more than 500 pints of blood every day from volunteer blood donors to meet patient needs. Since 2001, the High-Speed Blood Drive has generated nearly 1,350 pints of blood, and each pint can be used to save up to three lives.
"BCP is excited to partner with Sonoma Raceway again," said Andrea Casson, BCP Mobile Recruitment Supervisor. "The raceway provides an opportunity for our donors to be rewarded with a high speed experience while saving lives in our community!"
To donate blood all donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent) and bring a valid photo ID. For more information, contact Laurence Lea with Sonoma Raceway at [email protected] or Andrea Casson with BCP at (707) 280-6618.
