MOBILE, Ala. ? Success in football requires teamwork. That also holds true when it comes to keeping local hospitals supplied with blood ? it takes a team of donors pulling together.
With the countdown already underway for the inaugural University of South Alabama football season, head coach Joey Jones, his staff and players are teaming with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to save lives in Mobile and Baldwin counties by rolling up a sleeve to support the Community Champions! Blood Drive.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jones and members of his staff will be stopping by LifeSouth’s donor center at 967 Hillcrest Road to donate blood and to encourage others to give. They’ll also be delivering a piece of history that one lucky Jaguar fan will get to claim.
The Jags’ first-ever game will take place Sept. 5 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, and the players and coaches who will take part in the launch of the football program have signed a banner that will hang at LifeSouth. The entire coaching staff has also autographed a ball. During the month of June every donor has the opportunity to enter a drawing to win both the ball and banner. The drawing will be held June 27.
Jones, who grew up in Mobile and played football at Alabama, says supporting the blood drive sends a message.
“We want the city to know that we support them and want our team to be viewed as part of the community,” he said.
LifeSouth also has a donor center in Daphne at 6451 Merritt Boulevard, as well as donor centers inside Thomas Medical Center in Fairhope and Mobile Infirmary Medical Center. LifeSouth Coastal Alabama District Director Keith Manwaring said the boost from Jones and the Jaguars is both appreciated and well-timed.
“This comes as we’re starting the summer, a time when many of our regular donors are traveling,” Manwaring explained. “We also have many high school students who donate regularly, but when school closes, it stops our school blood drives as well. So we need donors to step up to help this time of the year.”
The blood donated with LifeSouth supports eight hospitals in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and local patients are the top priority for those donations. Anyone age 17, or 16 with parental consent, weighing a minimum of 110 pounds and in good health is eligible to donate. A photo ID is also required.
For more information, contact Manwaring at (251) 706-1470 or kjmanwaring@lifesouth.org.
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