CBCO announces 56-Day Challenge, chance to win $56,000

Andy Ostmeyer, The Joplin Globe, Mo.
·2 min read

Dec. 28—The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has announced a 56-Day Challenge, giving blood donors the chance to win up to $56,000.

To participate, donors must fill out an online commitment form by Feb. 29 at www.cbco.org/56day, and then donate whole blood at any CBCO blood drive or donor center anytime in 2024. There will be 10 monthly prize drawings starting in April and going through January 2025. The more times a donor gives in 2024, the more entries they earn and the more money they can win, up to $56,000.

Michelle Teter, spokesperson for CBCO, said donors can donate every 56 days, or up to seven times year.

"The average donor donates one time a year," she said, adding that the purpose of the challenge is to get donors to return for additional visits.

"Of all donors to CBCO, only 39% give more than one time a year," she said. "If those one-time donors gave just one more time, local hosptials would have over 17,700 additional units of blood available to help patients."

Donors in January and February also will receive a warm pullover hoodie when they donate at any CBCO donor center or blood drive.

The CBCO has a blood centers in Joplin's Northpark Mall, open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. CBCO also also has blood centers in Springfield, and in Springdale and Bentonville, Arkansas.

All centers are closed Jan. 1.

It serves more than 40 area healthcare sites and is the sole supplier to a number of hospitals in Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas and Southeast Kansas. That includes Freeman Health System in Joplin and Neosho, Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Carthage, Cassville, Aurora, and in Columbus, Kansas; as well as Cox Barton County Hospital in Lamar and Cox Monett Hospital.

Upcoming blood drives include:

—Mercy Hospital Carthage, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 3125 Dr. Russell Smith Way (bloodmobile in the parking lot).

—Jasper County Bar Association, noon to 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 5, at the Joplin Elks Lodge, 1802 W. 26th St.

—Freeman Hospital West, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22, 1102 W. 32nd St, Conference Rooms 1W-4W.

To find a blood drive near you and make an appointment to give at https://www.cbco.org/donate-blood or by calling 417-227-5006.

For more information and official rules on the 56-Day Challenge, go online to https://www.cbco.org/56day.