Indio wins Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge

The city of Indio was crowned the winner of LifeStream Blood Bank’s Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge for the second straight year, organizers announced Wednesday.

The annual initiative pitting Coachella Valley cities against one another for a charitable cause saw Indio come out on top with 94 units of blood. Coachella came in second, also for the second straight year, with 77 units.

The challenge was held during the month of July in Indio, Coachella, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and Rancho Mirage. Altogether, 529 units of blood were donated across the nine desert cities.

“Our thanks to everyone who came forward to donate during the challenge,”’ said Dr. Frederick Axelrod, LifeStream’s president, CEO and medical director. “The number of units collected represents more than 1,000 local hospital patients being assisted, and should be a source of great pride to all Valley residents and communities.”

All donors who participated in LifeStream’s nine scheduled events throughout the month received a free single-day admission ticket to Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, valid through Oct. 9. Donors were also automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a pair of Southern California CityPass tickets, which are valid for free admission to Legoland, SeaWorld and “park hopper” admissions to Disneyland/Disney California Adventure Park.

“We congratulate Indio for collecting the most blood, but the real winners are local patients and their loved ones who received the gifts of life, hope and comfort,” Axelrod said.

These were the dates and locations for this year’s Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge:

LifeStream will hold donation events at the following locations:
— July 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cathedral City Public Library, 33520 Date
Palm Drive, Cathedral City;
— July 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Indio Teen Center, 81678 Ave. 46, Indio;
— July 14, 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Coachella Senior Center, 1540
Seventh St., Coachella;
— July 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Indian Wells Club Golf Resort, 44500
Indian Wells Ln., Indian Wells;
— July 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Palm Desert Community Center, 43900 San
Pablo Ave., Palm Desert;
— July 21, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
Headquarters, 3111 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs;
— July 23, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., La Quinta Wellness Center, 78450
Avenida la Fonda, La Quinta;
— July 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rancho Mirage Public Library, 71100
Highway 111, Rancho Mirage; and
— July 30, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Desert Hot Springs Health and Wellness
Center, 11750 Cholla Drive, Desert Hot Springs.

Learn more about donation blood at LStream.org .