Bob Villela and the Loud Boys will be sponsoring their ninth annual Give Fore Life Blood Drive on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
This is one of the biggest blood drives in central Florida.
“We are hoping to be number one this year,” said Villela, a familiar face to many Villagers.
Villela has worked the outside bar at City Fire at Sumter Landing for more than 10 years.
“Last year the only blood drive that beat us was the one at the Daytona Speedway,” Villela
This drive came about because Villela asked the wife of a sick friend what he could do and her answer was give blood.
“I went down the next day and gave a pint,” said Villela.
He received a very warm thank you letter a few weeks later.
“I said to my wife if they send that nice a letter for one pint, they must really need the blood.”
He got together with his golf buddies, the Loud Boys.
“The folks at oneblood really know how to keep it moving, start to finish shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes to an hour,” said Villela. There will be six mobile units onsite. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the morning switching to sandwiches and pizza in the afternoon. Participants will receive a goody bag with a t-shirt, coupons for a free round of golf at Eagle Ridge and area restaurants.
Donors will also receive a free wellness check including blood pressure, iron count and a cholesterol screening.
Donors need to bring a form of ID – driver’s license is fine – and should drink water before they arrive. The drive runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m The address for Seabreeze Recreation Center is 2384 Buena Vista Blvd. You can schedule a time in advance by going to www.oneblood.org.
