Kentucky Lags Behind Tennessee in Day 3 of Big Blue Crush
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2021) — As of Wednesday evening, Nov. 17, the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) continued to lag behind in donations by Big Blue fans on the third day Big Blue Crush, increasing the deficit in its annual competition with Medic Regional Blood Center and Tennessee fans. Kentucky saw 359 donors give lifesaving blood, while 491 Tennessee fans rolled up their sleeves, leaving KBC trailing 1,066 to 1,424 for Medic.
The Big Blue Nation needs a big turnout today and Friday if it hopes to beat Tennessee in the annual blood drive.
“Competition aside, we hold this event annually because of the important role it plays in getting adequate amounts of blood on the shelves at area hospitals to help Kentucky patients over the holidays,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations for Kentucky Blood Center. “Demand at hospitals for lifesaving blood is higher than ever before, making each and every donation important. There is still time to visit a mobile blood drive or a KBC donor center to help the holiday blood supply.”
UK students, faculty and staff can donate at these convenient campus drives:
- Gatton Student Center (Ballroom A): 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Friday
- Lewis Honors College (Scholars Lounge): 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Friday
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 19 to 13 with one tie and has won the competition the past two years.
As a thank you for saving lives, Big Blue Crush donors receive a ringer-style Crush T-shirt and a coupon for a free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse.
KBC urges Kentucky fans to help do their part to supply Kentucky hospitals with lifesaving blood for the Thanksgiving holiday by visiting any KBC donor center (open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for Crush) or by donating at a mobile blood drive through Friday. A complete list of drive locations and hours is available at www.kybloodcenter.org/events/Big-Blue-Crush-2021.
KBC locations include:
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
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, feeling well and healthy, show a photo ID and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at www.kybloodcenter.org. Donors awaiting results of a COVID-19 test should not attempt to donate.
Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins are permitted as space and social distancing permit. Appointments for mobile blood drives, including campus drives, can be made through the day prior to the drive. To schedule a donation or find other donation locations, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800-775-2522.
About Kentucky Blood Center
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.