The Eleventh Annual MacRumors Blood Drive runs for the month of May 2020. If you are healthy, we ask you to donate blood, platelets, or plasma this month. Your donation will help other people survive or recover from injury, surgery, or illness. See the Blood and Platelet Donation FAQ for details.
We also ask that you register as an organ donor and register for the bone marrow registry, if you haven't already. You might preserve the life of someone who suffers organ failure, or cure someone of a life-threatening disease like leukemia. See the Organ, Tissue, and Bone Marrow Donation FAQ for details.
These acts of charity are more important than ever during the current coronavirus pandemic, and there is an additional way that some people can help others: If you've recovered from a case of COVID-19, you can donate "convalescent plasma" that might help the recovery of a serious COVID-19 patient. (You can read more about convalescent plasma from the Red Cross, the American Assocation of Blood Banks, or New York Blood Centers.) However, if you have COVID-19 symptoms or an active infection, stay home and we wish you a speedy return to full health.
Let's save some lives!
A. Participate in the MacRumors Blood Drive during the month of May
1. Donate blood, platelets, or plasma, register as an organ donor, or register as a bone marrow donor
Donate at any donation center in your area. Pick a day when you can spare an hour or two, and make an appointment. Donation centers are taking extra precautions to protect you from the coronavirus. Expect some additional questions and screening.
Registering as an organ donor is easy. Depending on your country, you may be able to register online by filling out a form. You may be asked to sign a donor card or put a sticker on your driver's license. To register to be a stem cell or bone marrow donor, you typically fill out a form and have your cheek swabbed.
Not everyone is eligible to donate blood. There are restrictions on age, weight, donation frequency, health conditions, etc. See the Blood donor eligibility thread for discussions of the donor restrictions on sexually active gay males and news about the current reduction in the deferral period.
Please support our drive whether or not you can donate blood yourself. If you convince someone else to donate, you both earn a spot on the Honor Roll.
2. Let us know about it
The reward for donating or registering is personal satisfaction from helping others. But we want to add to your reward by giving you a well-deserved pat on the back.
After you donate or register, post in this thread and tell us about it. For blood, platelet, and plasma donations, tell us how many units. You can even post a photo of your arm bandage or plaster.
Check out our Honor Roll, where we give you public thanks for your generosity.
3. Spread the word - #MacRumorsBloodDrive
Let others know about the need for these donations. Share with your followers. Encourage friends, relatives, classmates, and coworkers to donate.
If you're received a blood transfusion, share your story.
And please thank the donors who post here.
B. Participate the rest of the year
Continue donating blood, platelets, or plasma from June 2020 to April 2021. Each time you do, register your donation on our Team MacRumors page, as follows:
- Go to the 2020-2021 Team Page. Bookmark it for the next time.
- Click PLEDGE TO GIVE BLOOD.
- Fill in your MacRumors username as your first name and @ macrumors as your last name.
- In the Comments field, tell us what type of donation and how many units, e.g., 1 unit of whole blood, 2 units of platelets, etc.
- Fill in an email address and zip code. The fields are required but MacRumors won't use that information.
