Community Blood Services and New York Renaissance Faire Partner to Save Lives

July 26-29,2011

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Donors will receive two complimentary tickets to the New York Renaissance Faire when they donate blood or platelets from Tuesday, July 26th through Friday, July 29th at Community Blood Services� New Jersey or New York donor centers.

Community Blood Services and the New York Renaissance Faire will continue its partnership of more than a decade by offering complimentary tickets to the faire as a thank you to volunteer blood donors.

In New York, donors can donate at the New Windsor center, 575 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 206 on Tuesday, July 26th from 1 to 5 p.m. or Wednesday, July 27th from 1 to 6:30 p.m.

New Jersey donors can donate at the Paramus center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, on Tuesday, July 26th or Thursday, July 28th from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m. or on Wednesday, July 27th or Friday, July 29th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or they can donate at the Lincoln Park center, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304 on Tuesday, July 26th or Wednesday, July 27th from 1 to 6:30 p.m.

To schedule an appointment to donate, call toll-free 866-228-1500 or click here to schedule online. Walk-ins are welcome but an appointment is recommended. An appointment is needed to make a platelet donation at the Paramus or Lincoln Park donor centers in New Jersey.

�Every summer for the past 11 years the Faire has generously offered tickets to our volunteer blood donors in recognition of their commitment to helping to save lives. Collecting enough blood during the summer to meet the needs of patients in the hospitals we serve would be impossible without their unselfishness,� said Karen Ferriday, director of community affairs at Community Blood Services.

Ferriday noted that Community Blood Services, a not-for-profit organization, needs to collect 250 pints of blood each day in order to meet the transfusion needs of patients at the more than 25 hospitals it serves in New Jersey and New York. She said all blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, as well as platelets to treat cancer patients and AB male plasma to treat trauma victims.

�Your donation of blood during these summer months, when donations are at their lowest, indeed makes you a hero. The Renaissance Faire is pleased to continue the tradition of giving to those who give blood. We are grateful to provide complimentary tickets to our faire as an added incentive for your commitment to donate during this critical time. Thank you for being heroes to the community,� said Wanda Carr, assistant general manager of the New York Renaissance Faire.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental permission) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also receive a complimentary mini-physical which includes non-fasting cholesterol, blood pressure, hemoglobin and non-fasting glucose screenings.

The New York Renaissance Faire is open rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays (including Labor Day), August 6 through September 25. Visit www.renfair.com for discount tickets and event details. Children under 5 are always free!

Visitors can join Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth I on a grand visit to an amazing 16th Century Faire. Experience this place where hundreds of brightly costumed performers take the stage and fill the bustling streets with laughter! Stroll the quaint village as the music of the Renaissance surrounds you. Cheer your favorite knight at the Joust Tournament. Meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Feast on savory sweets and tempting treats. See amazing acrobatics, magicians, jugglers, swashbuckling pirates, and more. Watch a Living Chess Match and laugh at tall tales! Play a game of skill or chance. Browse more than a hundred shoppes, featuring the finest in handmade wares. Join in this Great Escape, Where Fantasy Rules!