Local cartoonists to draw donors at blood drive

By: BRIAN ECKHOUSE - Staff Writer | Monday, April 16, 2007 11:20 PM PDT ∞

MURRIETA ---- Usually, blood donors get orange juice and a snack, and sometimes a T-shirt. Saturday, donors could get sketches rendered right in front of them by nationally syndicated cartoonists.

San Marcos resident Greg Evans, the cartoonist of the popular comic strip "Luann," will be on hand Saturday at Valley Blood Services' office in Murrieta, as will Dave and Doreen Dotson of Winchester. The Dotsons created the "Outskirtz" comic, which is published in numerous newspapers across the country. Both are members of the Southern California Cartoonists Society.

Evans can't give blood ---- he contracted hepatitis on a trip to Asia years ago ---- so he volunteers to attract others to do what he can't do.

"It's for a good cause," he said. "There's always a shortage of blood."

Blood bank spokeswoman Mary Walter-Brown said the need for fresh supplies of blood is "a constant struggle.

"We like to maintain a three-day blood supply," she said Monday. "Right now, we have a 1 1/2-day supply, and it fluctuates on a daily basis."

Evans and Dave Dotson said they would create an image or two from their comic strips for those who donated blood. Donors who give blood after noon Saturday will be treated to Domino's Pizza.

"Some of us are good at doing caricatures. Some of us are not," Evans said. "I'm not. I will be doing, on request, things from the strip."

Dotson said he would draw a caricature of the donor or one of five characters from his strip.

"It's a nice way to meet people and promote giving blood," Dotson said.

Saturday's event marks the 20th consecutive year that the San Diego Blood Bank has hosted a cartoonist blood drive ---- but it's the first one held in Southwest County. Valley Blood Services, a new division of the blood bank, opened its Murrieta branch in mid-November.

"We're trying to build that loyalty for this event," Walter-Brown said. "We've seen a lot of the same people come over the years; people have built quite a collection (of cartoons) over the years."

Like Evans, Dotson has participated in the drive over the years, though not recently. Evans has volunteered for all 20 blood drives.

"We used to do it in El Cajon for years," Dotson said. "But it's become too much of a hike to go down to San Diego."

Donors are encouraged to join the bank's new difference loyalty program, where members are able to track their total cholesterol, blood pressure and pulse. Donors should be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors age 76 and older must provide the Blood Bank with annual written permission from their physician.

Saturday's blood drive runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Valley Blood Services' Murrieta office, 25115 Madison Avenue, Suite 105. Dotson will be there from 9 a.m. to noon; Evans will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or beckhouse@californian.com.

If you plan to donate blood ...

WHAT: Cartoonists' Day blood drive

WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Walk-ins welcome.

WHERE: Valley Blood Services' Murrieta office, 25115 Madison Ave., Suite 105

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: (800) 469-7322

INFORMATION: www.valleybloodservices.org

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