The start of spring always means renewal and the promise of new lifeand you can add to that with a gift of blood.

The Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross is marching into spring with two blood drives to wrap up the month at West Virginia University.

The drives:

• Wednesday, March 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, John Jones Conference Room (call 598-4095 for appointment).

• Wednesday, March 31, 1-7 p.m. WVU Coliseum, Jerry West Lounge.

From its base in Johnstown, Pa., the Greater Alleghenies Region distributes blood and blood products to more than 100 hospitals across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia.

Blood gives life to car crash victims needing transfusions, and to cancer patients who need the blood platelets and other byproducts to survive to survive the rigors of their treatment.

Nearly 27,000 units of blood and its components were used last year alone by WVU Hospitals, according to numbers culled by the Red Cross. Neighboring Monongalia General Hospital required more than 7,500 units for patient care.