Labor Day weekend is about relaxing or having fun before the daily grind of school and work get in the way. However, one business is asking for the public’s help to give back.

Cycle City Hawaii hosts a blood drive every year but this time they plan to break a record and make it a huge event Monday. Not only that, but it’s also very personal because one of their employees survived thanks to blood donations.

Jim Simon is still in rehab, recovering from a critical vehicle crash 3 weeks ago.

“My right leg was almost completely lost. The tibia was severed completely,” said Simon. “I’ve ended up with a big hole above my left eye.”

Simon underwent multiple blood transfusions. That’s why he and his colleagues at Cycle City felt the need to give back.

“Without that blood I wouldn’t be here, so if we donate blood it really really does save lives,” said Simon.

Cycle City got to work and tapped into the motorcycling community for help.

“We met with several bike clubs and we are aware of several that will be rallying tomorrow. Bikers are a misunderstood community. They have big hearts,” said Mark Fenn of JN Automotive Group.

Organizers are hoping to collect 200 pints of blood which would break the previous record blood drive that was in Kona on Fourth of July. That blood drive collected 171 pints of blood.

This comes at the right time because Blood Bank of Hawaii tells us blood donations during Summer are always low.

“We are the sole providers of blood products to the entire state of Hawaii,” said COO Todd Lewis of Blood Bank of Hawaii. “Summer is a difficult time to collect blood. The high school programs are over. Everybody is going out during the summer for vacation.”

The event is Monday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cycle City Hawaii in Mapunapuna and it’s open to the public. There will be food and entertainment for kids.

