UPDATE Wednesday, May 10, 5:43pm |A Bixby Knolls yoga studio that hosted a blood drive Tuesday in conjunction with the American Red Cross attracted such a large number of donors that ARC officials requested the studio’s owner consider committing to host another this fall.
FreeSpirit Yoga’s six-hour blood drive on May 10 was the most well-attended of the several drives the studio has played host to over the last three years, said Amy Papageorges, a Red Cross senior account manager, in a May 11 e-mail. She “
Thirty-three people donated a total of 23 units of blood on Tuesday, she said, dubbing the turnout as both “amazing” and “fantastic”
“With that quantity of blood, up to 69 lives will be saved,” Papageorges continued.
Owned and operated by Andrea Testa, FreeSpirit Yoga has hosted a blood drive once or twice a year since the studio opened its doors in 2003. She has agreed to host a second drive this year on Nov. 2.
When she learned on Wednesday of the success of her most recent drive, Testa said the news caused her to “tear up with joy and sadness.”
The yoga enthusiast began teaming with the Red Cross as a means of giving back.
“I like to do things for our community, to help where it’s needed most,” Testa said in April.
Papageorges said that individuals like Testa are rare.You have no idea how challenging it is to find blood drive sponsors like (Testa) who will not only run a blood drive but really go out of their way to make it successful as well,” she said.
UPDATE Monday, May 9, 7:05pm | Don’t forget to stop by FreeSpirit Yoga tomorrow, Tuesday, May 10, between 2 and 8 p.m., when anyone who donates blood to the American Red Cross during the studio’s blood drive will be entered into a raffle drawing for free yoga classes.
Whether you’re a veteran “poser” or you’ve long been curious about the ancient, relaxing art of yoga, it’s a worthwhile cause with a potentially sweet reward.
FreeSpirit Yoga is located at 3910 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls. Call FreeSpirit Yoga at 562-989-9959 for more information or to make an appointment to give blood.
Tuesday, April 26,1:15pm | A Bixby Knolls yoga studio is gearing up to host a blood drive next month, and all donors will be entered into a raffle drawing for free yoga classes.
Andrea Testa, who owns FreeSpirit Yoga located at 3910 Atlantic Ave., said she is teaming up with the American Red Cross on May 10 to host the drive, which will run from 2 to 8 p.m.
Anyone wishing to donate should call the studio and set up an appointment time prior to May 10, Testa said.
In addition to the giveaways the Red Cross typically distributes to donors, which in the past have included coupons to Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream and tickets to the Laugh Factory at the Pike, FreeSpirit will enter the names of all donors into a drawing to win a a free month-long unlimited yoga series valued at $100.
Testa said FreeSpirit Yoga has held similar blood drives at least once, but sometimes twice, per year since 2003.
“I like to do things for our community, to help where it’s needed most,” Testa said. “I figured we have a lot of people to draw from for a good turnout, but it seems that more people cannot give blood for one reason or another … so i’m asking the papers (news media) to help me find pints!”
To make an appointment to donate blood on May 10 at FreeSpirit Yoga or for more information, call FreeSpirit Yoga at 562-989-9959.