By Alana Mauger and Neel Govil
Photo by Konrad Jones / American Red Cross
Few American Red Cross blood drives can boast a cult following like 93.3 WMMR’s “I Bleed For Preston & Steve.” Familiar faces flock to the blood drive year after year hoping to grab a selfie with their favorite DJs and to lay claim to a coveted, limited-edition Preston & Steve T-shirt.
Even more importantly, they roll up their sleeves in record numbers to be part of something special – a community that literally helps save lives while celebrating the power of rock n’ roll.
Growing from a small storefront drive in the former Franklin Mills Mall in 2005 to multiple locations with live broadcasts, “I Bleed For Preston & Steve” has collected more than 19,000 units of blood and helped up to 53,000 patients since its inception.
The drive’s 18th installment wrapped up on June 16, 2023, collecting 1,169 units of blood at Live! Casino in Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.
“For the first time ever, we decided to put a number out there as a bit of a challenge – as a goal to hit because things went down [during COVID] – and that was a thousand units,” said Preston Elliott, announcing the results on air on June 21. The 1,169 donations “far eclipsed what we were going for. That’s a lot, and 210 more units than last year.”
“It’s freaking awesome,” agreed Steve Morrison, who noted that people came out to multiple locations in spite of horrible weather – including a tornado warning.
In 2019, prior to the pandemic, “I Bleed For Preston & Steve” collected more than 1,400 units of blood, setting a personal record and making it the largest single-day blood drive in the country that year – a record both hope to revisit in the coming years.
After finishing their show at Oaks, Steve and Preston headed to Live! Casino, where they donated blood. They’re both regular blood donors, not only at their drive, but throughout the year in the community.
Live broadcasts add to the excitement of the blood drive, and this year had a record of three! In addition to the Preston & Steve Morning Show, Pierre Robert broadcast his afternoon show from Live! Casino between 11 a.m.-3 p.m., then Brent Porche was live from Oaks between 3-7 p.m. Listener-favorite 7 p.m.-midnight DJ Jacky BamBam also spent the morning greeting blood donors at Live! Casino.
Photo by Konrad Jones / American Red Cross
The broadcasts are a big draw for donors like Ted and Kristi, who have been fans of the Preston & Steve Morning Show since its debut in 1998. Both came out to give blood on June 16th at the Oaks location to watch the live broadcast in real-time before and after their donations.
In addition to the broadcasts, Ted said he donates every year for the satisfaction in knowing he helped someone. He also likes seeing where his blood was used – a popular feature of the Red Cross Blood Donor app. Kristi also gives blood regularly in honor of her father, who received transfusions during his treatment for cancer.
It’s not only familiar faces at “I Bleed For Preston & Steve;” the drive draws new blood donors, too! In fact, 123 people gave blood for the first time at the 2023 drive between the two locations. Kassandra was one of those donors. Like Ted and Kristi, she was drawn in by the live broadcast, but she also understands how important blood donations are for patients and was happy to help.
Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross.
Blood donor Jem celebrated her birthday at the drive, where she gave blood in honor of her father, a donor himself, who recently passed away.
“His last words were to help each individual and keep donating blood,” she shared. And so Jem will continue “bleeding” every year for her favorite radio station DJs, Preston & Steve.
Check out our blood drive photos on Flickr!
To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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