There will be a blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 at St. Luke&squo;s Hospital in Columbus (101 Hospital Drive; Columbus) from 12 p.m. ‐ 4:30 p.m.

Please call 894-2408 for more information or to schedule your donation appointment.

All presenting donors can enter a drawing to win one of three pairs of Delta Airlines domestic tickets.

&dquo;This is a critical time of year for blood and platelet donations,&dquo; said Robert F. Fechner, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region. &dquo;We&squo;re so grateful for our dedicated blood donors, but now we&squo;re asking them to not only continue to give themselves, but to challenge their friends and family to also give the gift of life. With more Red Cross advocates spreading the word in our area, we stand a greater chance of being able to meet the needs in our community this holiday season.&dquo;

The Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides life-saving blood to more than 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive life-saving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given safely every two weeks, up to 24 times a year. Most healthy people age 17 and older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org.