Canyon Lake couple hosting blood drive Wednesday at gym

Chad and Jenn also pose with the Red Cross van outside the facility. Photos courtesy of Chad and Jenn Burleson

With blood donations in short supply because of the COVID-19 shutdown, Canyon Lake residents Chad and Jenn Burleson decided to open up their Lake Elsinore gym and sponsor a blood drive last week. They were overwhelmed with the response and how willing and eager community members were to donate. So, they’re sponsoring another drive for next week.

The blood drive will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. COVID-19 rules require that each donor first make an appointment instead of simply showing up at the blood drive.

The appointments are set by going to the American Red Cross website, RedCrossBlood.org, and entering the sponsor code: CTCLE. The location of the blood drive will be The Camp Transformation Center at 29885 Second St., Units Q, O & P, Lake Elsinore 92532.

Chad and Jenn own two small gyms in Lake Elsinore and Menifee, which are currently closed by order of the state because of COVID-19.

“We decided to give back to the world in this much-needed time along with many others in our community,” Jenn said. “We transformed our closed gym into a blood donation center. We hosted our blood drive on Monday in memory of my late father, John Link, who would have been 66 this month. He passed away last year from a rare form of blood cancer called Waldenstrom Macro Lymphoma”

Within two days of promoting the event, every appointment was filled, she said.The blood drive on Wednesday will also be in memory of John Link. A photo ID is required at the event to verify the person showing up is the one who made the appointment.

All donors and blood drive staff will be screened prior to entering the facility where the blood drive is being held.

Donors should be in good health and willing to donate.