Fleet Feet Brentwood to host blood drive

Fleet Feet Sports in Brentwood will be hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross Thursday from 1-5 p.m. Inspired by the tragic events at the Boston Marathon earlier this year, this is the second of a series of blood drives that Fleet Feet Sports co-owners Matt and Christi Beth Adams organized to remind and empower locals to give back.

"After Boston, Matt and I talked a lot about ways we can give back as a part of our daily lives, ­ not just when a tragedy occurs," Christi Beth said.

Christi Beth was in Boston to run the marathon this year.

"Our goal is to encourage the community to be proactive and make this simple, yet lifesaving contribution on a regular basis."

Matt often gets asked how giving blood will affect a runner's workout.

"After researching the subject online and from personal experience, I suggest hydrating well the day of and after your donation, and taking a rest day from working out the day of," he said. "Rest days are a healthy part of training anyway, so why not give up one run to save a life? It's that meaningful."

Tammy Sanders, Marketing Director at Fleet Feet, encourages local businesses to participate in Thursday's blood drive.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to come together and do some good," Sanders said. "It's also one of the easiest ways to make a difference."

Fleet Feet Sports is located at 330 Franklin Road in Brentwood. Those interested in participating can sign up for a time slot by clicking here.