Red Cross, HBO Urge Game of Thrones Fans to Bleed for the Throne
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
To celebrate the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, HBO and the American Red Cross have partnered to ask fans and blood donors to Bleed #ForTheThrone.
With thousands of blood donations uncollected over the past couple of months due to snow storms and extreme cold, the Red Cross and HBO urge individuals to roll up a sleeve and give blood as soon as possible.
Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org to ensure critical medical treatments or emergency care are not delayed or cancelled. The partnership includes blood drives held in 43 states from March 7-12, as well as nine college and universities across the U.S. from March 12 - April 11.
To thank those who give blood or platelets, the Red Cross is organizing a special sweepstakes. Individuals who present to donate at any Red Cross blood drive between Feb. 19 and March 17 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the season 8 world premiere of Game of Thrones. Terms and conditions apply, and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones.
Bleed #ForTheThrone at SXSW
HBO will host an immersive blood drive experience—unlike any other – at South by Southwest (SXSW) from March 7 - 9 in Austin. Fans can schedule their SXSW blood donation appointments starting February 19 by going to RedCrossBlood.org and using the sponsor code: bleedforthethrone.
Appointments are expected to fill up quickly. Additional appointments will be reserved for day-of release, with a standby line offered for fans who are unable to make appointments online.
Winter is Here
For seven seasons characters of Game of Thrones have bled for the throne. Now the Red Cross is joining the battle for the living by asking all eligible individuals to help alleviate blood shortages in the real world. Blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors. Therefore, any disruptions to donations – from severe weather to widespread flu – can lead to an emergency need and cause delays in essential medical care. We need donors of all ethnicities and blood types to ensure the right blood product is available at the right time.
Please make an appointment by using the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733- 2767).
A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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 cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.