New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Foundation, and Nationwide Insurance to Support the Town of Loudon Blood and Marrow Drive
Loudon, NH — New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Foundation, and Nationwide Insurance have joined together to encourage local residents to help save a life at the Annual Town of Loudon Blood and Marrow Drive.
The drive is scheduled for December 2 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arthur Colby Safety Building on 8 Cooper Street in Loudon, N.H., and is sponsored by the Loudon Police Department and the American Red Cross.
The sponsorship of the marrow testing portion of the drive is a partnership between New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Foundation, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, and the Hendrick Marrow Program. All donors will have the opportunity to have a free marrow test at the Loudon drive. The test is done by a quick cheek swab and is totally painless.
“This will be our biggest drive yet,” said Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “It is amazing how everyone is able to come together to make such a huge impact.”
So far in 2008, a total of 4,147 pints of blood have been collected and approximately 4,584 new members have joined the National Marrow Donor Program Registry at 30 NASCAR sponsored drives throughout the country. Every day more than 38,000 blood donations are needed, and over 6,000 people are searching for an unrelated marrow donor.
“This is an excellent cooperative effort that has a life-altering benefit for so many people,” said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager for the speedway. “It’s another outstanding example of community outreach by the NASCAR family.”
Donors will receive a NASCAR goodie bag, an official Red Cross Blood Donor t-shirt, and have the opportunity to register to win a meet and greet with Jimmie Johnson in 2009 at a race of their choice (transportation and lodging not included, all guests must be 18 years of age or older). Pizza will be provided compliments of Brookside Pizza in Loudon, N.H., and local residents will serve up their famous chili recipes and homemade desserts.
Sources: Fred Neergaard/New Hampshire Motor Speedway PR