LA QUINTA – One of the most anticipated challenges among the nine Coachella Valley cities is now only days away — the upcoming 6th Annual Nine Cities Challenge Blood Drive. Who will be the victor this year?
LifeStream, the exclusive provider of blood products and services to all Coachella Valley hospitals, will hold the valley-wide blood drive, from July 1 through July 31. The challenge strategically coincides with the summer months when it is critical to keep the Coachella Valley’s available blood supply at ample levels.
As snowbirds leave the Valley, the population decreases by 30 percent, resulting in significantly fewer donations, the critical need for donations increases due to added vacation travel and summer activities.
This year’s theme “If We All Do A Little, We Can Change A Lot” is about community.
“By joining together in the promotion of this campaign,” said Rick Axelrod, president and CEO of LifeStream, “we know we can all agree on one thing: the real winners will be our local hospital patients and area accident victims.”
Below are locations, dates and times to donate during LifeStream’s 6th Annual 9-Cities Challenge Blood Drive
• Palm Desert: July 7, Community Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Coachella: July 12, Bagdouma Park Community Center, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Cathedral City: July 13, Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• La Quinta: July 14, Wellness Center, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Rancho Mirage: July 18, Public Library, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Palm Springs: July 19, Palm Springs High School, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Indian Wells: July 20, Indian Wells Golf Resort, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Indio: July 26, Teen Center, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Desert Hot Springs: July 28, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• La Quinta Donor Center: July 1 to 31, donate on behalf of your city, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
For more information and to set an appointment, please call 800-879-4484 or visit here.
For added fun and camaraderie, all those who donate at the above locations receive a ticket voucher to Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, a coupon for four free Jack in the Box tacos, and a red #9CitiesChallenge wristband. In addition, donors are encouraged to take their photo or video on location, displaying the wristband and sharing it on social media – encouraging and challenging family, friends, colleagues, and other companies/organizations to donate to this very worthwhile cause.
This year, as in past years, there will be a major drive in each of the Valley’s nine cities. If donors are not able to attend on the day the drive is in their city, donors are encouraged to visit the La Quinta Donor Center; simply tell us which city you live or work in and your donation will go toward your city’s challenge total. In addition to the main drives, all drives during July, including all businesses and organizations that organize their own drives will count toward each city’s total.
During the month of July, donations will be tracked and posted weekly at http://www.9CitiesChallenge.com. This year’s theme “If We All Do A Little, We Can Change A Lot” is all about keeping our Valley’s blood supply healthy for local hospital patients and area accident victims all summer long.
The goal of the Nine Cities Challenge Blood Drive is to create a friendly competition among the valley’s cities, their workforce and residents – whereby the motivation to donate blood becomes an event with strong participation and goodwill.
As a non-profit organization, LifeStream relies upon the generosity of more than 500 volunteer blood donors daily.
