music saves lives

we've all had those moments where music really helped us get through something. but when i titled this post "music saves lives" thats not what i meant. im mogging today about a cause near and dear to my heart, and one that i think everyone should know about.

music saves lives in a nonprofit that helps link music and people with causes that save lives every day. music saves lives helps to sign people up to donate blood for the redcross and also signs people up to be on the list of potential bone marrow donors for leukemia patients.

i first heard about music saves lives this year when i found out that if you donated blood at a music saves lives blood drive then you could recieve a free backstage pass to the vans warped tour. since i have my embarrasing obsession with pop punk and thus already planned on going to it i decided to look into it. i should probably point out that i was DEATHLY afraid of needles, and i almost passed out when i fell last year and busted my elbow open and had to get six stitches. so my pain threshold is practically nonexistant. yet the pull of a backstage pass to warped tour was just too much for me to pass up. so ipod in hand last june i found myself laying in a chair waiting for a technician to come stick me in the arm so i could bleed for my VIP access pass. well i turned my head once the technician came over to and marked the vein in my arm and refused to watch. i can honestly say that i never felt the needle get put in my arm. it only took me seven minutes to fill up the bag (i was super hydrated) and then it was over. i had my VIP access, for practically no pain!

on the way home i read over the information they had given me... each pint donated can save up to three people, and you can donate blood every eight weeks. most people are eligable (over 110 pounds, 17+ years old and healthy) yet only 5% of the eligible population of the US gives blood. it really kind of hit me that with about thirty minutes of my time, i had possibly saved three people! talk about instant karma!

while my reasons for first donating were a bit selfish, i have gone back to give blood every time im eligible since then. (im eligible to give again tomorrow, and signed up to do it!) i really do think that what music saves lives is doing is a great thing, not only with blood donations but with the bone marrow match making program as well.

if you think you might be eligible, i strongly encourage you to head over to the red cross website to read about becoming a donor or to read people whos lives have been saved. music saves lives encouraged over 12,000 people to donate in southern california ALONE this year. i think that is pretty incredible if you ask me.

ps. my backstage pass didnt really get me backstage everywhere, but i WAS able to get my picture with one of my fav pop punk bands forever the sickest kids, and hang with them by their tour bus :]

i look like someone that has been at an outdoor music fest all day. hot, sweaty, tired, and most of all SUNBURNT!