Join James Hinchcliffe at the Race to Save Lives Blood Drive in Detroit
Join James Hinchcliffe at the Race to Save Lives Blood Drive in Detroit
NTT IndyCar Series driver Hinchcliffe seeks blood donors May 31 at Belle Isle
For the second year, NTT IndyCar Series driver and blood recipient James Hinchcliffe is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a series of blood drives across the country in conjunction with local races to boost summer blood supplies. The community is invited to join Hinchcliffe at the Race to Save Lives Blood Drive supported by the NTT IndyCar Series and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, Friday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.at the Belle Isle Boathouse, East Picnic Way, in Detroit. Anyone participating in the Detroit blood drive will need to take the Grand Prix shuttle to Belle Isle because there is no public parking available on Belle Isle near the Boathouse.
Those who come to give blood during the Detroit Grand Prix Blood Drive will receive a free voucher (while supplies last) to attend the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Belle Isle, with the choice of attending Saturday, June 1 or Sunday, June 2. All fans are welcome to attend the Grand Prix during the day of the blood drive as Friday, May 31 is Comerica Bank Free Prix Day on Belle Isle. Everyone that comes to donate blood on Belle Isle will also be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a souvenier item autographed by Hinchcliffe.
Hinchcliffe suffered severe injuries after a crash during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015. He needed 22 pints of blood to survive, about twice an average person’s blood volume. His experience led him to realize how important blood donation really is.
“What happened to me was a real eye opener,” said Hinchcliffe, who will race the No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda IndyCar in the Chevy Dual in Detroit races on Belle Isle. “I understand now how blood can be needed in a moment’s notice and how much can be used to help just one person. I’m partnering with Red Cross to encourage more people to give blood so that patients can have another shot at life, just like I did.”
Severe injuries, like those that happened to Hinchcliffe, are a reminder of how fragile the blood supply can be. “We can’t predict when a major accident might happen,” said Todd Kulman, external communications manager for the Red Cross. “We need to be ready to respond to emergencies at any time and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.”
Hinchcliffe has hosted a number of Red Cross blood drives in his home town of Indianapolis since 2016, but this is the second year he is supporting a national campaign with a series of Red Cross blood drives in conjunction with races across the country. Last year, five drives were held resulting in 261 donations. Hinchcliffe seeks even more donors in 2019, with six drives planned so far.
The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,500 hospitals nationwide. In Michigan alone, the Red Cross needs about 650 donors each day to support patients at area hospitals. Donors of all blood types are needed to help those who rely on blood products.
Hinchcliffe Hundred Blood Drive with James Hinchcliffe
Friday, May 31, 2019
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
East Picnic Way, Detroit, MI 48207
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) sponsor code: grandprix to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
