Rowan County Republicans are trying to rope in people to give blood on Tuesday, and they are challenging local Democrats to do the same in a unique face-off.
The Rowan County Republican Party Community Blood Drive, now held for the second year, kicks off at 3 p.m. at High Rock Church, 708 W. Jake Alexander Blvd.
The drive will conclude by 8 p.m.
As head of the local Republican Party, John Leatherman said Republicans need to be seen in the community, and “be seen as caring.”
“It’s about participating in good things that will benefit everybody,” Leatherman said. “It is intended to get people doing something and being involved.”
Leatherman is challenging local Democrats to schedule another blood drive to try and bring more blood in.
In the end, the people who need the blood win.
“If the Democrats don’t take the challenge, what does that say?” Leatherman said.
However, Leatherman said Democrats are welcome at Tuesday’s blood drive.
“We’ll take Democrat blood,” Leatherman said. “Last year, we had a net of 32 or 33 units (of blood). We would like it to be an annual event. We do care, and blood crosses all boundaries.”
Ricky Delk, an American Red Cross donor recruitment representative, is running the show on Tuesday.
“We just care about people. That’s our motivation,” Delk said. “We have a team of people and a nurse in charge.”
The blood taken from people’s arms Tuesday takes about 72 hours to be processed in Charlotte, Delk said.
The blood then will be dispersed to the 103 hospitals the American Red Cross serves.
“Each unit of blood can save up to three lives. It is used for cancer patients and sickle-cell patients, as well as those with diseases where blood has to be transfused monthly,” Delk said.
For more information on the blood drive, contact Leatherman at 704-637-0775.