Manchester Road Race Blood Drive Now One Of Largest In Connecticut

MANCHESTER, CT — On the day after it hosts New England’s largest Thanksgiving Day run, the Manchester Road Race Committee will join with the American Red Cross to sponsor one of Connecticut’s largest blood drives.

The 37th annual Ray Crothers Blood Drive, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023 at Manchester High School, 134 East Middle Turnpike in Manchester.

The event, which in recent years has become one of the state’s largest single day blood collection efforts, is being held in conjunction with the American Red Cross of Connecticut.

All donors will receive a Manchester Road Race tee shirt. Walk-in donations will be accepted. Appointments, which are encouraged, can be made by calling 1-800-733-2767, or online.

More information about the holiday blood drive, and a direct link to the Red Cross appointment website, can be found at www.manchesterroadrace.com.

Race officials started sponsoring the blood drive in 1986 and have held it annually since then on the day after the road race. The event is named for Ray Crothers, a popular MRR champion from Tolland. Crothers won the race in 1965, and competed in it for 43 years. He died from cancer in 2008.

According to Lance Morgan, a physician assistant and member of the MRR Executive Committee who coordinates the drive, 7,886 pints of blood have been donated since the event began. Last year, 364 pints, which benefitted 1092 patients in need of blood, plasma and platelets, were collected.

“We are hoping to surpass last year’s numbers and to see the total number of units collected since 1986 exceed 8000 pints,” Morgan said. “The Manchester Road Race is delighted to once again partner with the American Red Cross. We are extremely grateful to our generous donors and financial sponsors, and we’re urging everyone who possibly can to help save lives by giving blood on the day after Thanksgiving.”