Mayors Mark National Blood Donor Month By Giving 'Just One More'

CLEARWATER, FL — As January’s National Blood Donor Month comes to a close, Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn are joining forces to drum up support for OneBlood.

The two mayors are kicking off their “Just One More” campaign on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at OneBlood’s St. Petersburg Donor Center, 9900 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. The special event takes place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Cretekos is a lifelong 50-plus gallon blood donor, according to OneBlood, the region’s main supplier of blood products. The “Just One More” campaign is meant to encourage regular donors to make one more donation than they did the year before.

“If every donor gave ‘Just One More’ donation than they did the previous year, blood shortages could be eliminated,” OneBlood officials wrote in an email to media. Buckhorn, also a regular donor, quickly signed on to support the effort when asked by Cretekos, OneBlood reported. It's unclear if other Tampa Bay area mayors have been asked to take part.

Would-be donors who want to join in the campaign must be generally healthy and at least age 16. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds.

If it’s not possible to give “Just One More” during Tuesday’s campaigns, prospective donors can find other locations by visiting OneBlood online.

Main image via Shutterstock/ Secondary photo courtesy of OneBlood