Chargers to hold annual Blood Drive Tuesday

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The Chargers will hold their annual Blood Drive Tuesday at the Town & Country Resort to benefit the San Diego Blood Bank.

The 36th edition of the event begins at 10 a.m. and will include appearances by Chargers players, musical entertainment and a walk-through exhibit on the human heart. Attendees can also learn how a blood sample can be used for clinical disease research.

The drive started in 1979 when Rolf Benirschke, a popular Chargers placekicker at the time, developed ulcerative colitis and underwent two surgeries to remove his large intestine, which required about 80 pints of blood.

Team officials called the San Diego Blood Bank and asked if they could collect donations, and the next day, about 1,000 fans showed up at the stadium and donated nearly 300 pints of blood.

The event is now touted as one of the nation’s largest annual blood drives.

Admission to the blood drive, which runs to 6 p.m., is $5. Donors can have the entry fee refunded and their parking validated.