Red Cross, students partner to save lives

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Leo High School marching band hosted a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross “Bleed for the Band” campaign.

The program has been designed to reward bands with a monetary donation of $500 in trade for organizing the drives.  The money will be used toward band trips, new equipment and uniforms.

"Bands come together to perform on a regular basis so we saw this as a natural fit to offer another way for youth and their parents in our community to come together for a common good," said Tracy Duncan, Communications Manager for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross.

That blood donated is crucial to the Red Cross cause since the country is in a national emergency appeal for donors currently.

“This summer, our collections have been lower than they have been in the past 15 years so what we’re asking donors to do is make that extra push and come out and help us make sure that we can keep our inventory levels stable,” Pape said.

The goal at Saturday’s drive was to collect 50 units of blood which, according to Pape, equates to saving 150 lives.