Play Guitar Hero, donate blood
Heartland Blood Centers, an independent blood center serving 33 hospitals in a 12-county region in Illinois and Indiana, will host several special-event blood drives where blood donors will be entered in a Guitar Hero competition.
Guitar Hero is a popular music video game where players are awarded points by correctly hitting notes, cords and sustains. Each blood drive location will have 3 prizes awarded. The first prize of the competition is a Guitar Hero IV game pre-ordered for the game system of winner's choice. The second-prize winner will receive a $25 Best Buy gift card and third prize is a Heartland Blood Centers sweat shirt. All blood donors who present will receive coupon for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream as an added incentive to donating blood. Blood drive locations and contact information listed below. Due to the popularity of this event, appointments are strongly suggested but walk-ins are welcome. For a competition rules or to determine eligibility to donate blood visit www.heartlandbc.org.
The blood drives are an added effort by the blood center to offset the usual blood shortages that occur in the summer months due to a decline in blood donations.
Heartland is reporting low blood inventory levels of O-negative blood types.
Founded in 1943, Heartland Blood Centers' mission is to provide and maintain an adequate supply of blood and blood products for area hospitals to draw upon to meet the needs of patients. For additional information, call (800) 7-TO GIVE or visit www.heartlandbc.org.
To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months should contact Heartland at (800) 7TO-GIVE to determine eligibility.
• Aurora: Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Aurora Heartland Blood Centers, 1200 N. Highland Ave., Aurora. For appointment contact Amy Smith at (630) 801-3149 or amysmith@heartlandbc.org.
• Plainfield: July 23, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Plainfield Heartland Blood Centers, 13717 S. Route 30, Plainfield. For appointment contact Amy Smith at 630-801-3149 or amysmith@heartlandbc.org.
• Schaumburg: July 26, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Schaumburg Heartland Blood Centers, 31 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. For an appointment, contact Amy Smith at (630) 801-3149 or amysmith@heartlandbc.org.
• South Elgin: July 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings, 402 South Randall Road, South Elgin. For appointment contact Jill Bernard at (815) 342-2149 or jbernard@heartlandbc.org.