5th Annual Motorcycle Blood Drive at Antelope Valley Medical Center Set for May 14

Posted On: May 5, 2016

(LANCASTER, Calif.) – The fifth annual Motorcycle Awareness Blood Drive will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) Blood Donor Center, 44105 15th Street West, Suite 305, in Lancaster. Festivities will include live music family fun, bike relays and raffle prizes. Free raffle tickets will be given to all blood donors and bike riders.

This annual event was started by the family and friends of Zac Lutz, a motorcyclist who was critically injured just months before his wedding in 2012 when a pickup truck U-turned in front of him in Lancaster. The blood drive is held each May in honor of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

"Donated blood can be the critical link to survival for seriously injured patients like Zac," said Ellen Gaines, AVMC’s blood services representative. "We are delighted that Zac’s family continues to promote the importance of blood donation through this annual blood drive."

The AVMC Blood Donor Center will be accepting donations on behalf of the motorcycle awareness blood drive throughout the month. The center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the first and third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or donors can make an appointment by calling 661-949-5622.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Antelope Valley Medical Center, a 420-bed district hospital located in the city of Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County, has been serving the community for more than 60 years. The area’s only full-service hospital, AVMC provides a full array of medical/surgical services, pediatric treatment, NICU, mental health, cancer care and more. It is a Level II trauma center, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Advanced Primary Stroke Center and a Certified Community Cancer Center. More information is available at www.AVMC.org or by calling 661-949-5000. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/antelopevalleyhospital.