Blood donation earns ticket to 'Vampire Diaries' premiere in Ybor

Give a pint of blood and get to see a sneak preview of a sexy new vampire TV show.

Anyone donating blood today through Thursday at a Florida Blood Services center can get a voucher for two free tickets to a special premiere of "Vampire Dairies," at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Ritz Theater in Ybor City.

Two mobile FBS units will be set up outside the theater from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday (1503 Seventh Ave. in Ybor. (Go to www.fbsblood.org for more details.)

"Vampire Diaries," based on a series of popular books for young adults, follows the story of a high school girl (Nina Dobrev) who is attracted to a mysterious new student (Paul Wesley) who happens to be a centuries old vampire.

He's trying to kick his dark past and stop feeding on humans. But he's got an older brother (Ian Somerhalder) who is ready to cause trouble.

The new series debuts at 8 p.m. Friday on The CW (WTOG, Channel 44).

The sneak preview is co-sponsored by CW44 and Florida Blood Services. More than 1,000 are expected to attend the event.

Attendees can enjoy free pizza from Bobby V's Original Westshore Pizza and one lucky attendee could win tickets to Howl-O-Scream courtesy of Busch Gardens.

The month-long promotion is designed to reach young people who may not be routine blood donors, says Dan Eberts, Corporate Communications Manager for Florida Blood Services. "Statistically, the 18-24 year old population represents about one-fifth of donors nationwide. We'd like that to increase, as one donation could save three lives."

Generally, healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can give blood.
Identification is required prior to donation.

For further information, please call 1 800 68 BLOOD (25663). For those unable to donate blood, contributions may be mailed to Florida Blood Services Foundation, 10100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716, or submitted on-line at www.bloodrelief.org.