Red Cross offering trip to Graceland as incentive for blood donation

By Patrick Lynn

The Red Cross is offering an impressive grand prize for anyone who donates blood or platelets in the month of June.

To help incentivize much-needed donations, the organization is reaching back to America’s rock and roll roots with some Elvis Presley-related prizes.

Presley is known for being the first global rock and roll icon—and according to the Red Cross, he was also a blood donor.

In honor of the new Baz Luhrmann film, Elvis, the Red Cross is entering everyone who donates blood or platelets during the month of June into a prize drawing. The grand prize is a VIP trip for two to Graceland, including round-trip airfare to Memphis, plus a three-night stay at The Guest House and Elvis Entourage VIP tour, courtesy of Graceland, a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar and more.

Everyone who donates blood or platelets between June 1-30 will also receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.

The Red Cross has been experiencing “critically low” blood supply during most of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the contest is one way to help stir up interest, according to a press release from the organization.

To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross also announced it was in its final days of COVID-19 antibody testing. The testing will end on June 3.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities June 1-15:

Plover

6/6/2022: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Plover Municipal Building, 2400 Post Rd

Stevens Point

5/23/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/24/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/26/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/27/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/28/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/30/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
5/31/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/2/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/3/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/4/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/6/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/7/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/9/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/9/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St Paul’s United Methodist, 600 Wilshire
6/10/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/11/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/13/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/14/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/16/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/17/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/18/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/20/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/21/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/23/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St
6/24/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St