News Release June 12, 2005

Southern Colorado Wildfire Impacts Community Blood Supply
Individuals encouraged to make donation appointment

For more information contact:
Julie Wedding 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

DENVER (July 12, 2005) - The Mason Fire evacuations in southern Colorado forced the cancellation of a Bonfils Blood Center community blood drive scheduled in Beulah this Saturday. Bonfils anticipates a loss of dozens of units of blood due to the cancellation. If the Mason Fire continues to grow, more drives could be cancelled -- causing a larger reduction to the blood supply in a time when blood donations already decline up to 20 percent due to summer activities and travel.

Bonfils is asking Coloradoans to be a life-preserver by donating blood this week in support of the communities affected by the wildfires.

Call the Bonfils Blood Center appointment center at (303) 363-2300 or visit www.bonfils.org to schedule a donation appointment and find a blood drive location near you. Now through Saturday, July 16 each blood donor will receive a “Be a Life Preserver, Give Blood” t-shirt for their donation. Beginning July 17, donors will receive a Bonfils Blood Center beach towel in appreciation of their donation.

“We are pleased to have been asked and able to support our military during wartime,” said Jessica Maitland, senior vice president of community relations for Bonfils Blood Center. “As we approach the July 4th holiday – a time when donations decrease up to 20 percent – we encourage our generous community to donate blood so that we may be prepared to assist not only patients in Colorado and throughout the nation but also to support our troops.”

Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 115 healthcare facilities and needs to collect 4,350 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about scheduling a blood donation, please visit www.bonfils.org or call (303) 363-2300 or (800) 365.0006 option 2.