Media contact:
Christine Welch
christine.welch@redcross.org
 

San Diegans encouraged to roll up a sleeve and donate blood with the Red Cross
 

SAN DIEGO (February 3, 2025) — Kyle Kraska, Heroes Helping Heroes 4Life (H3), Jersey Mike’s Subs, and The Handlery Hotel San Diego invite San Diegans to be a hero at the 7th annual Kyle Kraska Celebration of Heroes Blood Drive with the American Red Cross. The blood drive will be held on Thursday, February 13, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Handlery Hotel San Diego, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, Calif., 92108.  

Ten years ago, Kyle Kraska, San Diego resident and broadcast sports director, nearly died after being shot six times as he was leaving for work. He was rushed to La Jolla’s Scripps Memorial Hospital where he was treated for numerous traumatic injuries including a perforated liver and a collapsed lung. Kraska coded twice on the operating table and required multiple transfusions of blood products. Days later, he woke up from a coma and with the help of doctors, nurses and blood donors was able to return home and to his life. To thank the doctors, nurses, first responders and anonymous blood donors who saved his life, Kraska established KK's Heroes and the Celebration of Heroes Blood Drives.

For the seventh consecutive year, Kyle Kraska’s Celebration of Heroes Blood Drive will honor first responders and volunteer blood donors who help save lives every day while helping ensure hospital patients have the blood products they need.

“Without selfless donors, I would not be alive today,” said Kyle Kraska. “I hope you'll take time to join me in donating and help save a life. See you soon, San Diego!"

“Over the last six years, 2,032 blood donations have been collected through Kyle Kraska’s Celebration of Heroes Blood Drives. The blood collected has gone on to help thousands of hospital patients,” said Vanessa Van Mil, Red Cross Biomedical Services District Manager. “We look forward to celebrating another year of San Diegans making a difference in the community.”

The need for blood donations

The blood drive comes at a time when blood donations are critically needed to help build up the blood supply after thousands of donations went uncollected last month. Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of blood drives have been canceled and more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected due to ongoing severe winter weather and wildfires. In the neighboring Los Angeles Region, 31 blood drives have been canceled since the new year due to wildfires, resulting in over 900 uncollected blood product donations. More donors are needed now to help the blood supply recover from the significant shortfall in

blood products that are vital for lifesaving medical procedures.

San Diegans can be a hero to help hospital patients by rolling up a sleeve to donate blood.

As a thank-you, those who come to give blood will receive a Celebration of Heroes T-shirt, a coupon for a free sub sandwich, courtesy of Jersey Mike’s Subs, 20% off at The Handlery Hotel restaurants and complimentary parking, and a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry.

How to help

The community is encouraged to make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device and use sponsor code KKsHeroes.

How to donate blood

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About Heroes Helping Heroes 4 Life (H3)

Mark George, a former USS Midway sailor and San Diego City Firefighter and Deputy Fire Marshal founded Heroes Helping Heroes 4 Life, a 501(c)3‌ ‌‌that‌ ‌helps‌ ‌veterans‌ ‌and‌ first responders. H3 regularly hosts blood drives to honor community heroes and collect critically needed blood donations for hospital patients.
 

About the American Red Cross Southern California Region  
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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