Big Blue Crush Blood Enters Stretch Drive Today
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2014) — Cat fans should get ready to roll up their sleeves to prove they bleed blue because the 27th annual Big Blue Crush – the blood battle between Kentucky and Tennessee – is entering the stetch drive today, the fourth day of the annual event begins today and runs through Friday, Nov. 21.
Kentucky and the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC), which has won the past four years, leads the competition 13-12 with one tie against Tennessee and Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville.
Besides saving a life and helping to keep the win streak alive, donors will receive a long-sleeve gray T-shirt and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Kentucky-Louisville game Nov. 29. In addition through Friday, those who give at a KBC donor center will also get a movie pass to an area cinema.
Big Blue Crush is always the week prior to Thanksgiving and helps ensure a strong blood supply heading into the holidays. This year, for the first time in its 27-year history, Big Blue Crush follows the UK-UT football game instead of preceding it.
Donors this year have a new Jefferson County donation location opportunity. Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) recently opened the new Middletown Donor Center at 12905 Shelbyville Road in the Middletown Station Shoppes near the Walmart Supercenter and Target.
“While Big Blue Crush is a fun week for donors, it’s also an important week for the blood supply because blood donated during Crush is needed by Kentucky patients during the upcoming holiday season,” said Martha Osborne, KBC’s Executive Director of Marketing and Recruitment.
Along with the new Middletown location, KBC also has donor centers in Beaumont Centre and the Andover Shoppes in Lexington, and in Somerset and Pikeville. All KBC donor centers are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Crush week.
Big Blue Crush blood drives located throughout the region can be found at kybloodcenter.org, where Cat fans can also make donation appointments.