Strategy February 26, 2019
'Game of Thrones' Sweepstakes, Swag Helps Fuel Red Cross Blood Drive
'GOT' T-shirts are among the branded merchandise on offer.
It’s time to “Bleed #ForTheThrone”.
That’s the attention-grabbing hashtag/campaign line for a new promotional partnership between the American Red Cross and hit HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. To encourage people to donate desperately-needed blood and platelets, anyone who gives between now and March 17th at a Red Cross blood drive is entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the world premiere of the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, scheduled for April.
To celebrate the final @GameOfThrones season, we've forged a unique alliance w/ @HBO, uniting fans & donors to bleed #ForTheThrone. Give by 3/17 & you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip to the season 8 world premiere of Game of Thrones https://t.co/p9nqTRdC2k pic.twitter.com/2n8oZd1iEr
— Red Cross Carolinas (@ARCBloodCAR) February 26, 2019
And, of course, there are promotional products to help propel the “Bleed #ForTheThrone” effort, which the Red Cross said is the largest blood donation promo by an entertainment company in the nonprofit’s history. Folks who donate blood between March 7 and March 12 will receive Game of Thrones-branded items, including T-shirts, stickers to unlock a unique Snapchat filter and other items -- while supplies last.
The donation drive was already getting buy-in, as the Twittersphere showed:
Bleed #ForTheThrone pic.twitter.com/PB8CObdZJe
— Sariana Diaz (@SariDiaz13) February 23, 2019
I scheduled a Red Cross blood donation. Join me to help save lives: Weymouth Blood Donation Center https://t.co/HOieMvD0Wd
— Donna Pennell (@dpennell007) February 25, 2019
Will you bleed #ForTheThrone? pic.twitter.com/ElXNzysQYh
Blood products are perishable. The only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors. Therefore, disruptions to donations – from severe weather to widespread flu – can lead to an emergency need and cause delays in essential medical care. Such issues are looming because of the challenges of this winter.
“With thousands of blood donations uncollected over the past couple of months due to snow storms and extreme cold, the Red Cross and HBO urge individuals to roll up a sleeve and give blood as soon as possible,” the nonprofit said in a statement.
Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org to ensure critical medical treatments or emergency care are not delayed or cancelled. Donors of all ethnicities and blood types are needed.