Kentucky Leads by 171 Going Into Last Day of Blood Battle
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2020) — Kentucky fans are continuing to prove they bleed blue this week with another 447 donating during the fourth day of Big Blue Crush. It was enough to maintain a solid lead over Tennessee, which collected 432 donations. Going into the final day of competition, the score is 1,742 for Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) and 1,571 for Medic Regional Blood Center.
“Things are looking good for this week, but the work of saving lives isn’t over,” said KBC Vice President of External Relations Mandy Brajuha. “The need is constant, and collections have been uncharacteristically low this fall. We need the Big Blue Nation to bring it home tomorrow during the last day of the competition and come back every 56 days to help us keep the blood supply strong.”
Blood donation is considered essential and is safe. Masks, distancing, increased sanitization and other measures are in place to keep our donors safe at donor centers and at mobile blood drives.
To ensure a sufficient blood supply for the holidays, KBC and Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville annually compete to see whose donors can give the most blood the week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Kentucky leads the rivalry 18 to 13 with one tie.
As a thank you for saving lives, Big Blue Crush donors receive a long-sleeved Crush T-shirt and are entered to win a 65” Samsung Crystal UHD television. All donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies as well.
KBC urges Kentucky fans to help secure the win by visiting any KBC donor center or mobile blood drive through Friday. If appointments are not available, donors are encouraged to make an appointment in the weeks ahead to further build the holiday blood supply. A complete list of drive locations and hours is available at www.kybloodcenter.org/events/big-blue-crush-2020.
University of Kentucky donation sites for Friday, Nov. 20 are below. Click on the link to make an appointment.
Lewis Honors College (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Buell Armory (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Other donation centers in Kentucky:
Andover Donor Center
3130 Maple Leaf Drive, Lexington
Beaumont Donor Center
3121 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington
Hillview Donor Center
5406 Antle Drive, Louisville
Middletown Donor Center
12905 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
Pikeville Donor Center
472 S. Mayo Trail, Pikeville
Somerset Donor Center
10 Stonegate Centre (Stoplight 16A), Somerset
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion three years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for" three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for four straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.