Abingdon, VA- Johnston Memorial Hospital (JMH) Blood Bank in partnership with the Virginia Tech Southwest Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, including the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Chapters, proudly announced today a blood drive in honor of the victims of the April 16 tragedy at Virginia Tech.  The blood drive will be held on the anniversary of the tragedy, Wednesday, April 16, 2008.  Hours of the drive are 12:00pm-7:00pm at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.  “The turnout is expected to be enormous”, says Dexter Tenney, Supervisor for Donors at JMH.  “Everyone wants to honor the students and faculty that was lost in last year’s tragedy, and there is no better way than to commit to save a life this year by donating the gift that can save another.”  “Virginia Tech Alumni and Penny McCallum, Director of Virginia Tech’s Southwest Center located  at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, have been instrumental in pulling this drive together and we feel so honored to be a part of the local Day of Remembrance planned all over the nation through the Virginia Tech Alumni Association”, Tenney says. “This blood drive knows no borders and we expect donors from all over the region”.  Commemorative Virginia Tech T-shirts will be given to all donors.  Appointments are not required but encouraged.

JMH Blood Bank has been helping save lives for over 35 years.  The blood bank has grown immensely in the past couple of years, with nearly 13,000 members in their database. The blood bank currently provides blood services for three hospitals. The JMH Donor Center is on the 5^th floor of Johnston Memorial Hospital and also operates a mobile drive unit that covers five counties in southwestern Virginia.

Healthy individuals who are between the ages of 17 and 65 and weigh more than 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood.  Healthy donors which are on blood pressure or cholesterol medications are eligible.  Diabetic donors are eligible if certain criteria such as blood glucose level and routine checks on glucose level are met.  First time donors over the age of 66 must have permission from their doctor, ensuring that a blood donation will not compromise their health.  Donors must provide valid identification, such as a driver’s license or a donor card, and have eaten a meal within the last four hours and be well and healthy.  All blood types are needed!

To inquire about donating blood at this drive or to schedule a blood drive, please call Dexter Tenney, Donor Recruiter/Donor Services Supervisor, JMH Blood Bank at 276-676-6618 or e-mail dtenney@jmha.org.  The web address is www.jmh.org/blood.