Manchester Road Race Blood Drive Surpasses 330 Pints

Manchester CT

29 November, 2021

11:24 AM

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MANCHESTER, CT — Part of the 85th Manchester Road Race this year was a partnership with the American Red Cross and another "highly successful" blood drive on Nov. 26 at Manchester High School. Lance Morgan, a member of the MRR Executive Committee who coordinated the drive, said that 335 pints of blood, which will benefit 1,005 patients in need of blood, plasma and platelets, were collected at the road race's annual Ray Crothers Blood Drive. The blood collection effort, which began in 1986, honors the memory of Crothers, who won the road race in 1965 and ran in it for 43 years. Road Race officials decided to name the blood drive for the former champion after he died of cancer in 2008. Morgan said that a total of 7,522 pints of blood have been donated at the event since it was initiated by the race committee 35 years ago. "We are ecstatic with the results," said Morgan, who is a physician's assistant and longtime MRR volunteer. "There is such a critical shortage of blood in our state and nation, and we are profoundly grateful to our wonderful donors, volunteers, the American Red Cross staff and our financial sponsors for making the blood drive so successful." Financial sponsorship for the Ray Crothers Blood Drive was once again provided by the Eastern Connecticut Health Network and Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants. Refreshments were provided by Highland Park Market and each donor received a Manchester Road Race tee shirt from the race committee. Last November, although the road race was staged virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, the committee offered the blood drive in conjunction with the Red Cross as usual on the day after Thanksgiving and collected 306 units of blood. In recent years the event has become one of the largest single-day collection efforts in the state. "We intend to keep sponsoring the blood drive annually," Morgan added. "It's our way of showing thanks to the community that has been so tremendously supportive of our road race." See how the race was one here. Take a look at the pageantry of the 85th Manchester Road Race here. See age group and town winners here.