FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Swimmers Are Out for Blood… Again

Annual swim’s organizer, recovering from surgery and a recipient of blood, is on a mission to encourage even more donations this year

AUGUST 9, 2004, SEATTLE — For the seventh straight year, swimmers from all over Seattle will take to the warm waters of Lake Washington to challenge the community -- to donate blood at Puget Sound Blood Center. The Donor Party Swim for Life, as it is called, is an annual event that has successfully resulted in an estimated 3,748 units of blood donated by the community, saving up to 11,244 lives. This year, however, the event takes on a different meaning. The event’s organizer, Scott Leopold, has been a passionate advocate for blood donation -- but now is a Blood Center patient who has benefited from blood transfusions. In May of this year he underwent heart surgery -- and received two units of blood. Committed to repaying the Blood Center for ensuring that the community always has an available blood supply, Scott will spearhead the annual swim once again.

• WHO: Founded by a longtime Puget Sound Blood Center blood donor, Scott Leopold, the Donor Party swims 2 1/4 miles across Lake Washington to challenge the community to make blood donations. Scott was cleared by his physician to swim.
• WHAT: The swimmers challenge the community to meet or exceed the combined units of blood donated by the group – this year estimated totaling 455 units of blood. Last year, the Donor Party Swim for Life successfully rallied the community to donate hundreds of units of blood.
• WHERE: The entire event commences at the Medina Public Beach, located at 501 Evergreen Point Rd. in Medina. The event is expected to finish at Madison Beach
• WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 2003, from 10 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m. Swimmers interested in joining should plan on arriving at 9 a.m.
• CONTACT: Members of the community who are interested in participating should call (206) 354-2003. Members of the press can call Steve McLean at (206) 292-6511.

The inspiration for the Donor Party came to Mr. Leopold in 1998 after he realized that donations typically tapered off during the summer months. A regular donor who has given more than 320 units of blood, Mr. Leopold swam alone the very first year. Each year, the number of swimmers has doubled since then. An enthusiastic advocate of blood donations, and now a Blood Center patient, Leopold expects to attract approximately 100 people this year.

Puget Sound Blood Center recommends that the community call 1-800-398-7888 to schedule an appointment to donate blood or log on to www.psbc.org to schedule an appointment online.

About Puget Sound Blood Center
Celebrating 60 years in the community, the Blood Center is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine. The nonprofit Blood Center is the resource for patients in Western Washington who need blood, tissue and specialized laboratory services. Founded in 1944, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients’ lives. The organization directly affects the lives of over half million patients annually in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties of Washington State and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.

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