Hinchcliffe surprised by his blood donors at Red Cross program

Above: James Hinchcliffe with members of the Red Cross and donors during a blood drive at Sonoma Raceway.

James Hinchcliffe was met with a surprise when he was inducted into the American Red Cross of Indiana’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday for hosting blood drives at IndyCar races across the country.

After receiving 22 units of blood following his life-threatening 2015 Indy 500 practice crash – the average human body holds between eight and 12 units – Hinchcliffe has worked tirelessly to increase awareness about the importance of blood donations and hopes to hold a blood drive at every 2019 race and a have a mobile unit dedicated to being at races and other events.

Blood donors typically stay anonymous, but Wednesday's program included video messages from two Marines whose blood went to Hinchcliffe. The Red Cross then brought donors Madelynn Guerra and Madison Mowry -- who gave blood while they were Michigan high school students – up on stage to surprise Hinch.

“We refer to the ‘anonymous donors,’ you know, and it’s crazy to think that for me at least a couple of them are no longer anonymous,” Hinchcliffe said. “And to know that literally part of them is part of me now is humbling, it’s crazy. I’m still speechless.”

Watch WTHR-TV's video below (or here for international readers).