AARP Michigan and American Red Cross Partner to Help Save Lives Through Blood Dona...( LANSING Mich. June 12 -- A three...),Health

LANSING, Mich., June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A three-year-old has cancer. A young mother has unexpected complications after giving birth. Every day, patients across the United States need an average of 38,000 units of blood. That's about 15 million donations -- or nearly 40 million blood products -- transfused to 5 million patients a year. AARP Michigan is rallying its members, their families and friends to donate life-saving blood during a donation drive on June 12, 13 and 14.

AARP is again teaming up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a three-day blood donation drive. AARP members, along with their families and friends are encouraged to visit a blood donation site in their area on June 12, 13 or 14.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we tend to forget how important it is to give back to the community in which we live. One of the most rewarding ways to give back is to give blood.

"Through this partnership, we hope to reach out to that segment of the population who have been strong supporters of our Blood Program and clarify that there is no upper age limit to blood donation," Diane Ward, CEO of the Southeast Michigan Region Blood Services said. "The Red Cross is grateful for support from AARP Michigan and their members who are volunteering their time and giving much needed blood donations."

Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit http://www.givelife.org to find a nearby site or for more information. If you have any questions, call Karen Kafantaris or Barb Danes at the AARP Michigan state office toll-free at 1-866-227-7448.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in
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