American Red Cross

OMAHA, Neb. (March 19, 2008) – In hopes of raising awareness about the need for blood, Great Lakes Airlines has teamed up with American Red Cross to offer Kearney and North Platte blood donors an extra incentive to give blood this year. All presenting whole blood donors will be entered into the ‘Great Getaway’ drawing to win a free roundtrip ticket from Kearney to Denver, Colo. and North Platte to Denver, Colo. courtesy of Great Lakes Airlines.

This promotion is only valid at the Kearney Red Cross Donation Center, located at 101 W. 31st Street or the North Platte Donation Center located at 1111 S. Cottonwood. The first drawing will take place on April 1st and drawings will continue every quarter through 2008 for a total of four chances to win.

“Great Lakes would like to help educate our communities of the importance of giving blood,” said Monica Taylor, Director of Sales for Great Lake Airlines. “We sincerely hope this will help increase volunteer donors in our communities knowing that someone’s life could be saved.”

Under normal circumstances, approximately every two seconds someone in America will need a blood transfusion, so donors are always needed.  A recent study suggests the eligible donor pool is shrinking, with only about 38 percent of the U.S. population eligible to donate, and only about 8 percent of those eligible actually donating blood. The eligible donor pool was previously thought to be 60 percent of the U.S. population, with 5 percent of those eligible actually donating.

Donors need to be at least 17 years of age, 16 in Nebraska with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health to donate. Eligible donors can call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or go online to givebloodgivelife.org for more information and to make a blood donation appointment.

About the Red Cross
The Omaha, Neb.-based Midwest Region supplies blood products and specialized laboratory services to more than 80 hospitals in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas. In a lifesaving partnership with approximately 73,000 volunteer blood donors, 1,200 volunteer blood drive coordinators and 600 staff members, the Midwest Region organizes nearly 2,800 blood drives in an effort to collect more than 150,000 pints of blood each year for patients in need. The Midwest Region is one of four regions that make up the Mid-America Division of the American Red Cross Blood Services.

For more information about Great Lakes Airlines you can visit: www.flygreatlakes.com.
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