Kentucky Blood Center will host a blood drive this weekend in conjunction with pro soccer clubs Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC in the wake of the horrific shooting at Old National Bank.
Donors can stop by Lynn Family Stadium from 12-4 p.m. Saturday, with parking available in the Purple Lot off Adams Street. Appointments are encouraged to be made in advance by visiting bit.ly/Lynn_BloodDrive2 or bit.ly/Lynn_BloodDrive, but walkups are also accepted.
Those who donate blood will receive a complimentary ticket to Saturday night’s game between LouCity and San Antonio FC. The teams kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.
“Kentucky Blood Center would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Louisville shooting victims,” said Bill Reed, CEO of Kentucky Blood Center. “Our hearts are heavy as our state and community cope with this unspeakable tragedy. The availability of blood donated by local volunteer donors is critical to saving lives. Blood must be on the shelves when it’s needed, whether it’s for an unthinkable tragedy, routine surgeries or cancer treatments.
“What happened this week is a reminder that we must have a healthy blood supply ready for our local hospitals and patients. We cannot do that without the generosity of donors. We are proud to partner with Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC to stock the shelves for future needs.”
According to America’s Blood Centers, gunshot victims require 10 times more units of blood than people seriously injured by other traumatic accidents. A single trauma can require 100 units of blood. The average adult has 10.5 pints of blood in their body.
Kentucky Blood Center is encouraging donors to strengthen the blood supply by donating at Lynn Family Stadium and its donor centers across the state, including locations at 12905 Shelbyville Road and 5406 Antle Drive in Louisville. Visit kybloodcenter.org for more information.
Donors must be 17 years old, and the time commitment from registration to post-donation refreshments is typically 30-40 minutes. Kentucky Blood Center offers answers to other frequently asked questions.
LouCity’s game against San Antonio FC marks a high-profile rematch of last year’s USL Championship Final. The game has been billed a “Purple Out” — a nod to the club’s primary color — and takes place on College Night, with lawn games in the pregame Fan Zone and a silent disco to take place after the final whistle.
Gates to the Fan Zone at Lynn Family Stadium’s open/waterfront end open at 6 p.m. T-shirts will be given away to the first 1,000 attendees, with a $2 beer happy hour featured. All other stadium gates open at 6:30 p.m.
