**The Buffalo Bills** and the **American Red Cross** hosted their 4th Annual Blood Drive at Ralph Wilson Stadium on September 14th and fans donated blood in near record numbers.
Quarterback Trent Edwards and safety George Wilson, spokespersons for the event, showed their support by encouraging fans to donate, greeting donors, helping volunteers, posing for pictures and signing autographs.
"Every day we need more and more blood, it's a precious commodity," said Edwards. "Every day people need transfusions and we need to do our best to donate whenever you can. I'm a person that was transfused six pints of blood when I was in college because I had a serious leg injury...it saved my life."
"To actually give blood to those who are in need gives you a true feeling of community and true feeling of good service," said Wilson. "You never know when your time will come and you will be in need of blood. If you donated blood and you put in the time, it may come back to you tenfold. It's a great cause, lots of people and smiles, kids running around. It's a great feeling of community and I'm looking forward to the next blood drive in November."
DJ Jickster from 97 Rock hosted a live remote to help raise awareness of the event and encourage blood donations. The **Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders** and Billy Buffalo also made special appearances throughout the day.
In addition to almost donating more blood than any previous blood drive at Ralph Wilson Stadium, donors also received a commemorative gift Bills bag and were entered in random drawings for other Bills prizes. The fact that donating blood will save someone's life was not lost on those that attended.
"This was my first time giving blood," said Kali Carpenter, University at Buffalo junior. "Trent was great, he was an amazing person. He talked to me and my friend and genuinely cared about us being here. I'm leaving the stadium with such a great feeling because I got to save three lives today, that's great. I feel really good about it. As many lives I can save I will continue to donate blood and this definitely will not be my last time donating."
"I've donated blood twice before," said Megan Pericak of Hamburg, NY. "It's great knowing that so many people want to donate blood and give life. Giving blood makes me feel great, like I'm accomplishing something for someone who really needs it."
The Bills and American Red Cross will host another blood drive on November 16th and the commemorative gift will be a complimentary t-shirt. For more information visit **www.redcrossblood.org***or *call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
