By Jeff Yoder
The Indianapolis Colts will hold their 13th annual Bleed Blue Blood Drive and Health Fair at Lucas Oil Stadium Sat., Dec. 8. The Colts partner with Indiana Blood Center to put on the largest single-day blood drive each year in the state of Indiana. Colts' newly-hired head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with Leukemia earlier this season. This year's event holds special meaning because of Coach Pagano's illness. Anyone who participants in the blood drive will receive a limited-edition Colts football featuring Coach Pagano. "When Coach Pagano arrived in Indianapolis, one of the first things he talked about was being here to serve, so that we could continue the legacy of philanthropic involvement that is so important to our team," said Stephanie Pemberton, senior director of community relations for the Indianapolis Colts. "Our work with Indiana Blood Center and the Bleed Blue Blood Drive seemed an obvious way to connect him with a powerful community event that engages so many fans and has such an immediate impact on lives across the state." Pagano took over the Colts after a 2-14 season where expectations weren't exactly high. The Colts entered the season as a rebuilding team, and they were 1-2 through the first three weeks of the season. The news of Pagano's battle with Leukemia was released during their bye week on Oct. 1. They opened up the next week with a win under interim head coach Bruce Arians, and they're currently 7-4 and vying for a playoff spot. They've coined the phrase "Chuckstrong" in honor of Chuck Pagano, and this blood drive is just one of the many ways Colts fans are rallying around him. "No one could have imagined over the summer when we started planning for Bleed Blue just how personal our cause would become to Coach Pagano and the entire Colts organization," said Wendy Mehringer, chief marketing officer for Indiana Blood Center. "He spoke to high school football teams hosting summer blood drives through our Colts Leadership Challenge to encourage blood donation and participated in a promotional photoshoot for Bleed Blue. Now, allowing his personal battle to be supported by Colts fans so publicly, speaks even higher volumes about the type of person he is. At Indiana Blood Center, we are behind him 100 percent."
INFOBOX Anyone interested in participating in the Bleed Blue Blood Drive should visit colts.com/bleedblue or call Indiana Blood Center at 800-632-4722.
