UK Happenings

Kentucky Leads by 171 Going Into Last Day of Blood Battle

graphic that says Big Blue Crush. Day 4: 447 donations for Kentucky for a total of 1,742. 432 donations for Tennessee for a total of 1,571.

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

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.