Local 8 Headlines

People across globe join in 'World Blood Donor Day'

Posted: 2:42 AM Jun 14, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- People across the globe -- and East Tennesee -- are coming together Thursday for World Blood Donor Day.

MEDIC Regional Blood Center is hosting the blood drive events in and around Knoxville throughout the day Thursday.

MEDIC is offering all donors a coupon for a free Chik-Fil-A sandwich and a chance to win a pair of Tennessee Smokies tickets.

- East Tennessee Medical Group in Alcoa, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Athens Regional Medical Center, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- MEDIC Headquarters at 1601 Ailor Ave., 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- MEDIC Farragut at 11000 Kingston Pike, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m

World Blood Donor Day first occured in 2005, and celebrates the birthday of Nobel Prize winner Karl Landsteiner, who invented the blood naming system.

This year's slogan is "Every blood donor is a hero."