Donate blood at Sonoma Raceway, get a ‘hot lap’ around the track

Oct. 1 event hopes to replenish dwindling supplies, with a special need for type O Negative donors.|

Vitalant is joining forces with Sonoma Raceway to put a nontraditional spin on blood drives by giving donors a chance to get their hearts pumping with a high-speed "hot lap" around the road course prior to donating blood. Donors will ride along with a professional driving instructor in a KTMX-BOW around the 12-turn road course.

There is an urgent need for donors of all types. Vitalant is experiencing one of the most challenging times to collect blood compared with previous years. Obstacles related to COVID19, along with an increase in hospital need, is putting a strain on the region’s blood supply. All blood types are needed, especially type O, the most transfused blood type. O-negative is what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type.

“We require about 500 volunteer blood donors every day to help local patients in need of transfusions and not enough people are giving blood,” said Fred McFadden, Vitalant’s regional director.

The event is set for Friday, Oct. 1, from 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at 29355 Arnold Drive. To make an appointment, visit vitalant.org, click donate and search by zip code (95476), or call 877-258-4825.

There is no waiting period to donate after being vaccinated for COVID-19 or the seasonal flu shot. Masks will be required for all donors, staff, volunteers and guests, regardless of vaccination status.

All donors must be at least 16 years old (16 and 17 year olds need a Minor Donor Permit signed by parent/guardian) and bring a valid photo ID. First-time donors can learn their blood type immediately when they donate.

This year’s Sonoma Raceway High-Speed Blood Drive hopes to attract at least 75 donors.

“We are thrilled to work with Vitalant to support such an important effort,” said Jill Gregory, Sonoma Raceway’s general manager. “Hopefully the chance to take a lap at our amazing facility will encourage fans to give blood and fulfill this crucial need in our community.”

Vitalant is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S.

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