Campus News

Big Blue Crush Blood Drive Saves Lives

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2019) –  University of Kentucky students, faculty, staff and fans throughout Kentucky are rolling up their sleeves this week to save lives.

They will use their lifesaving powers in an annual blood drive to help the University of Kentucky beat the University of Tennessee in the 32nd annual Big Blue Crush. Last year, the University of Tennessee and Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville snapped UK’s eight-year winning streak, so Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) will be looking to the UK community and statewide supporters to exact revenge today, Nov. 18, through Friday, Nov. 22.

UK students, faculty, staff and fans can donate at the following campus locations today through Friday, Nov. 22:

Gatton Student Center: 10 a.m. -- 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Wednesday

Buell Armory: 6 a.m. -- 3 p.m. today

Lewis Honors College: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday

Gatton College of Business and Economics, Room 307: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday

Johnson Center: 1 – 6 p.m. Thursday

UK Medical Center: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday

If a campus donation site is inconvenient, visit one of the following statewide Big Blue Crush donation sites.

Today, Nov. 18 Laurel County Community (1:30 -- 6:30 p.m.) Paintsville Walmart (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Tuesday, Nov. 19 Madison County Berea Community (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Mercer County High School (8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, Nov. 20 Casey County Community (Noon – 6 p.m.)

Thursday, Nov. 21 Lincoln County Community (Noon – 6 p.m.) Alice Lloyd College (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Knox County Community (Noon – 6 p.m.)

Friday, Nov. 22 Personnel Cabinet (8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Lynn Camp Schools (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) 

To register specific campus appointment times and locations or for more information, visit www.kybloodcenter.org/events/big-blue-crush. Walk-ins are welcome. 

Established by the two community nonprofit blood centers in 1987, the blood drive assures a sufficient blood supply for the upcoming holiday season in both communities. UK leads the rivalry 17 to 13 with one tie. Last year, the University of Tennessee had 3,057 donors to UK’s 2,739. 

As a thank you for saving a life, UK donors will receive a limited-edition long-sleeved Big Blue Crush T-shirt (link to image), a McDonald’s coupon, and a chance to win a four-pack of lower-level tickets to the UK-Louisville football game on Nov. 30 at Kroger Field. Donors at the drives listed on campus will also receive a $5 Starbucks gift card.

“Big Blue Crush is extremely important to the Kentucky Blood Center,” said Martha Osborne, vice president of marketing for KBC. “Of course, we are motivated to win because of our rivalry with Tennessee, but certainly because of the impact the drive has on our holiday blood supply. Both blood centers rely on this drive to establish a healthy blood supply for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and beyond. We hope more fans than ever before will roll up their sleeves for this year’s Crush competition.”

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent); weigh at least 110 pounds; be in general good health; show a photo ID; and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation or find other donation locations, visit http://kybloodcenter.org/event/big-blue-crush/, http://kybloodcenter.org/ or call 800-775-2522.

Celebrating more than 50 years of saving lives in Kentucky, KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Somerset.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.