The Chargers (5-6) are holding on to hope after the 41-38 Week 12 victory over Kansas City. Today, they will meet the 7-4 Cincinnati Bengals in a matchup that will determine playoff implications for both.
During the Chargers preparation for the Bengals they took time out to empower the community to give the gift of life.
In November of 1997, the Chargers Blood Drive even set a Guinness World Record for the most blood collected at a single location in one day. Although records were not broken this year,the 35th Annual Chargers Blood Drive gathered over 2,500 people, including the entire Charger’s team.
The blood drive originated in 1979 when former Charger kicker, Rolf Benirschke, needed additional blood for surgery. The San Diego Blood bank did not have enough , so they reached out to the community and people gathered to donate blood the next day.
Here are some other notables about the Blood Drive XXXIV’s History:
- In 34 years 70,000 pints of blood have been collected.
- About 3,000 pints were collected this Tuesday.
- The event is one of the largest blood drives of it’s kind including information booths, food,live radio coverage and entertainment.
- The event ends with a Chargers family fashion show. Check out the 2013 rookies threads on the cat walk HERE.
- It’s one of the only events where the majority of the team attends; which makes it a perfect place for fans to get autographs and grab pictures with their favorite Bolt.
Lynn Stedd, spokesperson of the San Diego Blood Bank, sums up the event perfectly by saying, ” This is a life-saving event is perfect timing for the holiday season of giving.”
For more information on ways to donate visit http://sandiegobloodbank.org
View more pictures from event in our Facebook album
–Theresa Villano, Follow @Theresa_ppi
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- Kendall Reyes, Ryan Mathews, and Melvin Ingam Sign autographs for fans and blood transfusion survivors.
