Fort Wayne, Ind. — This summer, the American Red Cross and Cedar Fair theme parks are partnering to offer a free Cedar Fair theme park ticket to those who come to donate blood at select blood drives. Donors who give on Fri. Aug. 5 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at Pioneer Area Chamber, 100 North Elm St., Pioneer, OH 43554 will receive one free ticket, valid for entry to any U.S. Cedar Fair theme park, including Cedar Point, Kings Island and others, while supplies last.
Donors can also enter to win one of two grand prize packages for four to Knott’s Berry Farm in California or Cedar Point in Ohio.
“Blood and platelet donations are especially needed during the summer months when donations slow due to summer vacations and travel among regular donors,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. “Thanks to the support of Cedar Fair, blood donors can help save lives and have the time of their lives at a Cedar Fair theme park.”
Tickets are valid for the 2016 season, and other restrictions may apply. Now through Sept. 5, donors can also visit redcrossblood.org/cedarfair to enter to win a grand prize package and take advantage of an exclusive ticket offer that gives $2 of each ticket purchased online back to the Red Cross. In addition, Red Cross blood donors this August will receive a $5 Amazon gift card.
The partnership with Cedar Fair includes 10 theme parks across the U.S. with a goal of recruiting donors during the challenging summer months when blood donations typically decrease. “Even the most committed donors can forget to make time to give blood during the busy summer season,” said Wilson. “Hopefully, the opportunity to receive a free amusement park ticket will remind people to make summer blood donation a priority.”
Appointments are strongly encouraged for this blood drive and can only be made at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those with appointments will be taken first.
Blood Drive details:
Date Blood drive Time, Address, City, Zip – 8/5/2016 Pioneer Area Chamber 12:30 – 6 p.m. 100 North Elm St. Pioneer, OH 43554
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) 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.