After Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia last week, the Indiana Blood Center has worked with the team to help support him.
Today through Saturday, Colts fans can donate blood at any one of nine centers to honor Pagano.
The Muncie donor center is at 1609 W. McGalliard Road. The hours are listed at indianablood.org.
At the donor centers, Indiana Blood Center will provide cards to write a message to Pagano. Participants can also receive ChuckStrong posters and "In Honor of Coach Pagano" stickers. Participants who receive these stickers can share pictures with them on Facebook or Twitter with #chuckstrong.
Stephen Cooke, a media contact for Indiana Blood Center, said the center receives a lot of support from the Muncie community.
"[The Indiana Blood Center has] a very strong, stable base of donors, all around the state, particularly there in Muncie," Cooke said. "They've always gotten good support from the people in Muncie and from Ball State students as well, so I see that passion continuing."
Wendy Mehringer, chief marketing officer, said Indiana Blood Center has been working with the Colts for years.
"It's kind of hitting home with them now," Mehringer said. "We're a cause and a great organization, which I think they've known that for a long time, but for them to be able to see the fruit of that and how this works [hits home for the team]."
While Pagano is new to the Colts, Cooke said he has already seen fans "rallied behind him." The success of the ChuckStrong T-shirts is just one example of this, and donating blood is another way to support the coach.
"I think it gives Colts fans an outlet to show their love and support for the team," Cooke said. "I think it shows the true nature of Colts fans, that this hits people so hard, and they feel compassion to support him and to help him through his illness."
Although blood supply is good as of now - Mehringer said they have five to six days worth of supply - she said only time will tell if this week is successful.
"It feels like there are lots of indicators that would tell us this will be really strong turnout, but we don't know," Mehringer said.
The blood donated during this week will go into the general inventory and then to any patient who needs it, but Colts fans, or anyone, can donate any time.
"For those first time donors that we haven't seen before, sometimes it takes something high profile like this to encourage them or spark their interest as first time," Mehringer said.
Kristine Pierce, the field representative for the Muncie area, said Indiana Blood Center also will be on campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in Pruis Hall for the Homecoming Blood Drive.
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