Lions Club holding blood drive for UP hospitals

MARQUETTE — There is a critical need for blood throughout the Upper Peninsula, and the Marquette Lions Club is stepping in to help.

The Marquette Lions Club is holding a blood drive this Saturday.

The need to help local blood banks became apparent, after the issue became personal.

“The Lions Club has taken this on because one of our members’ sister died recently, and prior to her death, she required hundreds of pints of blood,” said Gretchen Preston, Lions Club Chair. “The Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world. This is one of many ways we serve. Our motto is, ‘Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion,’ and right now, there is a need for blood.”

The blood drive will be this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Marquette Lions Lakeside Park, and will double as a competition.

Lions Clubs from Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee, Chocolay and Skandia will compete to win $100.

Donated blood will be given to the UP Regional Blood Center, which supplies 13 UP hospitals. Donations can be made all month.

More information can be found on their Facebook page at Marquette Lions Club.