Rhode Island Blood Center, Olympian Elizabeth Beisel partner for summer donation awareness campaign

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Blood Center said it is continuing its awareness partnership with former Olympian and Rhode Island native Elizabeth Beisel ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

The center said that the summer months can lead to blood shortages, so donors who donate at an RIBC center between June 23 and July 7 will receive a “limited edition Team Blood Donor” shirt.

The Rhode Island Blood Center is offering limited edition shirts to all donors who donate between June 23 and July 7, 2024. (Rhode Island Blood Center)

Beisel added that she wants to challenge young donors between 16- and 24-years-old to donate more, as they traditionally make up 25 percent of donations.

However, only 10 percent of donations now come from that group.

“Everyone plays a vital role in the stability of our blood supply, especially our youth and first-time blood donors,” Marketing and Communications Manager Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick said. “We join Elizabeth’s call to our community to be champions for blood donation and help local patients this summer by giving the gift of life.”

More information on donating blood with RIBC can be found here.