It's all about becoming a local hero and saving lives!  MEDIC Regional Blood Center and Cooperative Appalachian Marrow Program are teaming up to host the Five Points of Life Ride to help educate the local community as to how you can be a hometown hero. 

Life South Community Blood Centers out of Gainesville, Florida coordinates the Five Points of Life Ride program to raise national awareness of the need for life saving donations of whole blood, apheresis, organ/tissue, marrow and cord blood.  This signature event started in 1997 as a way to spread this important message across the country and has turned into a biannual cross-country bicycle ride.  This particular ride takes bicyclist from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to Miami's South Beach, Florida.  

On Friday, Sept. 29, the team of eight riders will make their way to Middlesboro with a stop at Middlesboro Mall at 3pm.  The community is invited to stop by and support the cyclists, donate blood and join the National Bone Marrow Registry.  All blood donors must be at least 17 years of age to donate, weigh at least 110 pounds and have positive identification.  To join the Bone Narrow Registry, individuals need to be between 18 - 60 years of age and in good health.  MEDIC Regional Blood Center and the Cooperative Appalachian Marrow Program will be at Middlesboro Mall from 10am - 6pm registering donors. 

The cycling team consists of amateur cyclists who each have a personal connection to one or more of the Five Points as donors, recipients or in some cases, both.  The team acts as messengers for the program, sharing their experiences and the reason why it is so important to donate. 

Please stop by cheer on the cyclists as they as they continue this very important mission.  Saving the world isn't easy; however, saving a life is.  Friday, Sept. 29, is your chance to become a local hero! 

Community blood drives coming up in the area include:  

*September 28, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, 300 Clear Creek Road, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Medic Mobile.

*September 29, Middlesboro Mall, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Medic Mobile. MEDIC will be at Middlesboro Mall Five Points of Life Cyclists.  

*September 29, Claiborne County Hospital, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Inside Conference Room.

All donors must be 17 years of age, weigh more than 110 pounds and have positive identification.  Donors will receive a free t-shirt, cholesterol evaluation (no fasting required) and a year's credit towards Medic's Family Blood Coverage Program.  This program exempts donors and their IRS dependents from paying blood collection and processing fees at any U.S. hospital if a transfusion is needed.