California Roller Derby Blood Drives Draw Crowds

News provided by

Brown Paper Tickets

Aug 05, 2014, 23:25 ET


San Francisco, California (PRWEB) August 05, 2014 -- Nine Greater Bay Area roller derby leagues are partnering with Brown Paper Tickets and the American Red Cross to help save lives by hosting their second annual “Make ‘em Bleed” series of blood drives, the most widely attended roller derby drives in California, Aug. 9 through Oct. 18.

In its first year, “Make ‘em Bleed” roller derby blood drives attracted crowds and collected enough donations to help save 660 lives by making them more convenient and fun than ordinary community service events. This year, local roller derby athletes will offer autographs, photo opportunities, T-shirts, roller skate cookies, buttons, temporary tattoos, and a video called "Roller Derby Love" will play at the blood drives to inspire the highest levels of attendance and donations.*

“ ‘Make ‘em Bleed’ roller derby drives are very popular, resulting in more donations and lives helped,” said Sara O’Brien, American Red Cross communications manager. “Most of the roller derby drives have skaters in uniform on hand, and there is just a fun vibe about it. The girls are so welcoming, fun, and energetic.”

"Donating blood is a generous and selfless act, so by making it fun, we hope more people will come out to donate,” said Silver Foxxy, public relations manager for the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls. “Our league is proud to work with an organization that helps better the lives of people in our community.”

“We hope to double the number of lives helped this year," said Jerry Seltzer, Sonoma-based son of the inventor of roller derby, former commissioner for the sport, retired board member for the Red Cross, and current outreach representative with Brown Paper Tickets. Seltzer also contributes to the Brown Paper Tickets Doer Program, an advocacy group that offers free assistance and support to derby leagues across the globe. “Just like every roller derby league in the world, Brown Paper Tickets has a community service mission.”

“Summer blood drives are critical to maintaining a healthy community blood supply,” O’Brien said. “A single donation can help save multiple lives. You really can make a difference in the life of a local patient by giving blood.”

To schedule a convenient appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: DERBY. Walk-ins are also welcome to donate at these nine Greater Bay Area “Make ‘Em Bleed” roller derby blood drives:

  • Saturday, Aug. 9, (Antioch): Join the Undead Bettys from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus parked at the Antioch Sports Center, 1210 Sunset Dr.
  • Friday, Aug. 15 (Livermore): Join the Quad City Derby Bombshells from 1-7 p.m. at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Ave.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23 (Redwood City): Join the Peninsula Roller Girls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus parked at the Redwood Roller Rink, 1303 Main St.
  • Friday, Aug. 29 (Santa Cruz): Join the Santa Cruz Derby Girls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus in the parking lot at Whole Foods, 911 Soquel Ave.
  • Saturday, Sept. 6 (San Jose): Join the Silicon Valley Derby Girls from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Campbell United Methodist Church, 1675 Winchester Blvd.
  • Saturday, Sept. 20 (Hollister): Join the Faultline Derby Devilz from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus parked at 580 Tres Pinos Rd.
  • Saturday, Sept. 20 (San Francisco): Join the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, 495 9th Ave.
  • Saturday Sept. 20 (Santa Rosa): Join the Sonoma County Roller Derby from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus, parked at 1351 Maple Ave.
  • Saturday, Oct. 18 (Rohnert Park): Join the Resurrection Derby Girls from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Red Cross Bus parked in front of Cal Skate, 6100 Commerce Blvd.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Brown Paper Tickets:

Brown Paper Tickets (brownpapertickets.com) provides easy, reliable online event registration and ticketing with the lowest fee, the highest level of service, and the largest commitment to roller derby and to social responsibility in the ticketing industry. The Not-Just-For-Profit ticketing company donates 5 percent of the profits from every ticket sold, pays employees to work 40 hours each year for the cause of their choice, and employs a team of experts in roller derby to give free assistance, and to help the sport grow and thrive.

*T-shirts are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. All giveaway items are provided while supplies last.

Barb Morgen, Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com, +1 206 883-9093, [email protected]