Bob Jones, James Clemens to battle in blood drive
(MADISON RECORD PHOTO)
MADISON – High school rivals in Madison will unite for a good cause for the “Two Teams, One Community” blood drive, sponsored by LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.
The drive will be held at LifeSouth’s new facility at 8190 Madison Blvd. (near the old campus for Intergraph Corporation) on Sept. 8 from noon to 7 p.m.
Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools’ 67 cheerleaders are promoting the drive. “Their goal is to have four donors each to bring 268 donors to the Madison Boulevard location helping to save 804 lives. What a tremendous commitment,” Tamara Watts said. Watts works as LifeSouth’s community development coordinator in North Alabama.
“Please help them reach this goal. LifeSouth is the primary supplier to 12 hospitals in 10 counties in North Alabama,” Watts said.
James Clemens Principal Dr. Brian Clayton recognizes the event’s importance. “Besides being a community need, we try to teach our students to be leaders and have a servant heart,” Clayton said. “Our students reside in the same community, go to church together and play club ball together. However, we go to different high schools. Any time we can get together and show the community that we believe in the betterment of Madison, we try to do it.”
“We hope to see lots of red, white and blue and Carolina blue and navy in the donor center,” said LifeSouth district director Jason Hodges said. “It’s certainly a worthy community project for the Jets and Patriots.”
Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID also is required.
LifeSouth supplies more than 95 percent of North Alabama’s blood supply and more than 83 percent for Alabama. To meet needs of local hospitals, more than 1,200 donors need to donate weekly.
Along with Alabama, LifeSouth serves Georgia and Florida.
The Madison office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 256-533-8201 or visit lifesouth.org.
