Mud 4 Blood 7 was a success

The Seventh Annual Georgia Bounty Runners Mud For Blood Event was held May 1, 2010, in cooperation with Hooters of Kennesaw and 4 Wheel Parts supporting LifeSouth, Community Blood Centers.

The Georgia Bounty Runners sponsor this event each year to promote the positive side of our sport by giving back to our communities. We try to hold these events in various places around the Atlanta area to make it convenient for different communities to assist LifeSouth in their mission.

Life South’s mission, as listed on their web site, is: LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is a community blood supplier for local hospitals in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of these hospitals in each of the communities we serve by providing the highest quality blood components and services.

The GBR feels this is a worthy cause because a single pint of blood has the potential to save three lives. Platelets, plasma and red blood cells are separated, tested and preserved for future use. Local hospitals place an order with LifeSouth and they deliver the product directly to the hospital where it is used in various life-saving areas.

This year we are proud to report we collected 98 pints from 88 donors. Eighteen folks were turned away for various reasons from low-iron count to medications that are not accepted by Lifesouth. Several of our members did the “double” machine. With those 98 donations this event is able to help 294 people

It was an overcast day that may have deterred some from attending, but we still had a huge turn out for the truck show and various other aspects of the event.

Four-Wheel Parts Performance Center and Omix/Rugged Ridge sponsored booths at the event. We had participation from a local low-riding truck group as well as our usual four-wheel drive community. Hooters of Kennesaw gave us a perfect location for the event on Hwy 41 in Cobb County. They did some fantastic advertising and had flyers at Four-Wheel Parts and other shops. This location did very well with “walk up” traffic. We had several folks come by to give blood that were simply in the area and happened upon the event.

In addition to Hooters, Four Wheel parts and Rugged Ridge, other sponsors that donated prizes include Optima Battery, Auburn Gear, Pit Bull Tires, Interco Tires and Sound Sensations.  Click here to see all of this years sponsors.

GBR members also had a Three-Day Breast Cancer Booth, a Comfy for Chemo booth, ARTT Dog Treats, GBR Bake Sale, GBR Kerry & Elaine Vanderpool’s annual Silent Auction and Rugged Ridge had their scratch and dent sale. There was also a bounce-house that the kids adored.

A thank you goes to Tony Eiermann for heading up the Mud For Blood Team and working closely with Hooters and LifeSouth. Also thank you to Ms. Robin Payne who did most of the registration all day with her laptop for the prizes. Many thanks to ALL the GBR members that came out and worked all day and especially to those of you that gave blood since that is the entire nature of the event!

The GBR is already planning for a bigger and better event next. Mud For Blood Eight, here we come!

For photos of some of he winning vehicles and various shots of the event, please visit my webshots page here:

good-times.webshots.com/album/577693425wuapSh

FIRST DONOR OF THE DAY