Kentucky Still Leading Tennessee Heading Into Last Day of Blood Drive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2015) ─ With one more day to go in the 28th annual Big Blue Crush, Kentucky fans have kept Kentucky Blood Center in the lead against the Tennessee Gators, 2,018 to 1,533.

“Going into this week we had a goal of 3,000 donors. While we’re thrilled to be winning the competition at this point, we’re concerned that the total is more than 300 behind where we were last year. We’re hoping to see hundreds of donors today to help make up that difference and assure a strong blood supply for the holidays as well as a win against Tennessee,” said Martha Osborne, executive director of marketing and recruitment for Kentucky Blood Center (KBC).

This yearly competition between Kentucky Blood Center and Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville pits fans of the Cats and the Tennessee Volunteers to see who can donate the most blood the week before Thanksgiving. Kentucky leads the competition 14 to 12 with one tie and has won the competition the last five years.

Donors will receive a Big Blue Crush T-shirt and a chance to win tickets to the Kentucky-Louisville football game on Nov. 28.

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

KBC’s five donor centers will be open special hours – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – during Crush week. There will also be daily mobile blood drives throughout the region. Donor centers are listed below, and blood drive locations can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Lexington - Beaumont Donor Center

3121 Beaumont Centre Circle

Lexington – Andover Donor Center

3130 Maple Leaf Drive

Somerset Donor Center

10 Stonegate Centre (Stoplight 16-A)

Louisville – Middletown Donor Center

12905 Shelbyville Road

Pikeville Donor Center

472 S. Mayo Drive