Now is the time to make your appointment for the Gift-of-Life Marathon Twelve Days of Giving!
With an eye toward creating an even greater regional impact, Rutland’s record-breaking blood drive will add a new host town this year – and is honoring the site where the Gift-of-Life Marathon – 12 Days of Giving started 12 years ago.West Rutland will join Rutland City, Rutland Town, Castleton, Fair Haven and Manchester as host sites for the 2015 event, billed as the longest blood drive in the United States. The GOLM also holds the record for the biggest blood drive in American history, collecting 2,350 pints in one day in 2013.
The GOLM – 12 Days of Giving will be held:
Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the home of Castleton University President Dave Wolk;
Dec. 2 from noon to 6 p.m. at U.S. Army Reserve on Post Road in Rutland Town;
Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rutland High School;
Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rutland American Legion Post 31;
Dec. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Rutland Town;
Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burr & Burton Academy in Manchester;
Dec. 9 from noon to 6 p.m. at the West Rutland Town Hall;
Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Diamond Run Mall;
Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rutland Elks Club;
Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alliance Community Fellowship in Howe Center;
Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fair Haven Union High School;
Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the College of St. Joseph gymnasium.
The Paramount Theatre, which has hosted the GOLM since the start, is passing the torch to allow others to become a host site, including West Rutland. Organizers plan to expand to more towns in coming years
For the first time, GOLM donors can do most of their health history before arriving at the drive, using the Red Cross’ new RapidPass. RapidPass offers donors a way to complete their pre-reading and donation questions online from the comfort and privacy of their homes or offices, reducing the time they spend at blood drives by as much as 15 minutes. It must be done the day of the donation. More information is available at www.redcrossblood.org/Rapid/Pass.
Appointments, which are strongly encouraged, may be made by calling 800-RED-CROSS or visiting www.giftoflifemarathon.com. While supplies last, donors will receive gifts from Casella Waste Management, Castleton University, Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Power, Heritage Family Credit Union, Killington Resort, Phoenix Books, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and Thrive Center of the Green Mountains.
