The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, the Carolina Panthers and Carolinas HealthCare System are teaming up for the 10th Annual Keep Pounding Blood Drive. The event will take place at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte on Monday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All presenting blood donors will receive a Keep Pounding Blood Drive T-shirt in addition to an exclusive, one-of-a-kind Carolina Panthers Keep Pounding giveaway. Guests from the Panthers are scheduled to make special appearances throughout the day.

The Keep Pounding Blood Drive is held each year on May 1 in honor of former Panthers player and coach Sam Mills, whose jersey number 51 was the first and only number retired by the Carolina Panthers. Mills lost his two-year battle with cancer in 2005, but his “Keep Pounding” mantra continues to inspire his team and his community.

“The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas and its donors provide a lifeline for local patients, including many at Levine Children's Hospital,” said Riley Fields, Carolina Panthers director of community relations. “The team is proud to support this blood drive each year and get the fans involved in this important event. Panthers fans have a long history of supporting the team's community outreach efforts, and this is a wonderful opportunity to give the priceless gift of life to those in need.”

For every pint of blood collected at the Keep Pounding Blood Drive, CBCC will make a financial contribution to the Keep Pounding Fund to support cancer research efforts at Carolinas Medical Center. One pint can help save up to three patients in local hospitals.

Appointments are preferred and can be made by calling Community Blood Center of the Carolinas at 1-888-59BLOOD or by visiting www.cbcc.us.

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is the local nonprofit, community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to the region’s hospitals. CBCC collects blood and blood products from volunteer donors in the community to return to the community at the lowest possible cost consistent with the highest possible standards. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers that provide more than 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 1-888-59BLOOD.

Follow the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter, on Instagram https://instagram.com/cbccarolinas/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.