Manchester Road Race Blood Drive Aiming For Record 400-Plus Pints

MANCHESTER, CT — The Manchester Road Race Committee will conduct its 40th annual Ray Crothers Blood Drive on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, with organizers hoping to collect at least 400 pints of blood.

The blood drive, staged in partnership with the American Red Cross of Connecticut, is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Manchester High School, 134 East Middle Turnpike.

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Walk-in donors are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Donors can schedule an appointment through the American Red Cross by calling 800-733-2767 or online. Registration information also is available through the Manchester Road Race website.

Everyone who donates blood will receive a Manchester Road Race T-shirt. The event also will include entertainment, refreshments and a raffle.

The road race committee began sponsoring the blood drive on the day after Thanksgiving in 1986. It has been held annually in memory of Ray Crothers of Tolland, who won the Manchester Road Race in 1965 and competed in the event 43 times before his death in 2008.

Crothers was a standout distance runner at Central Connecticut State University. He won the race's high school, masters and open divisions and recorded eight top-10 finishes in the Thanksgiving Day race. The blood drive was named in his honor following his death.

Donors contributed a record 385 pints at last year's blood drive. More than 9,000 units of blood have been collected since the event began in 1986.

"This is the 40th anniversary of the road race blood drive and we are hoping to celebrate it by setting another record and collecting 400 pints of blood, or more, this year," said Lance Morgan, a physician assistant and Manchester Road Race Committee executive board member who is overseeing the event. "There is a critical shortage of blood in our region and we are urging everyone who possibly can to donate."

Hartford HealthCare and Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants are sponsoring the blood drive. Highland Park Market and Fox 61 also are providing support.

The 90th annual Manchester Road Race, presented by Hartford HealthCare, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 26, 2026. More information about the race, online registration and the Ray Crothers Blood Drive is available at the Manchester Road Race website.