The American Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of donated blood, leaving hospitals unable to meet all requests. To encourage people to donate, the organization is running a special sweepstakes. Anyone who donates blood by January 26 will get a chance to win a trip to the championship final of American football — Super Bowl LX, which will take place in the San Francisco Bay area.
The prize package for the winner includes airfare, two game tickets, three nights' hotel accommodation, a $1,000 gift card for expenses, and access to special Super Bowl events. The donation crisis is serious: over the past month the amount of donated blood has dropped by roughly 35%. There is an acute shortage of platelets and O, A- and B- blood types.
The main causes cited for the crisis are widespread flu activity across the country, which has left many potential donors ill, and unfavorable winter weather conditions that have hindered mobile blood drives. Those who miss the sweepstakes deadline but donate between January 26 and February 28 will still receive a $20 e-gift card as an incentive. The organization reminds the public that each donation can be a lifesaving transfusion for patients in urgent need.
Based on: Want Super Bowl tickets? Blood donation could score you a shot at some