October 20, 2008
Public, alumni encouraged to give blood in Purdue challenge
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
The 12th annual Purdue vs. Indiana University Blood Donor Challenge pits the universities against each other in a race to collect the most blood for Indiana's medical needs.
The competition encourages people throughout the state to donate blood in the name of their favorite school at their local participating blood agency. The school with the most blood donations will be announced at the Purdue-Indiana football game at Ross Ade Stadium on Nov. 22. The winning school receives a small replica trophy of the traditional Old Oaken Bucket.
As part of the challenge, Purdue will host a blood drive on Wednesday (Oct. 22) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union's South Ballroom. All donations collected at the event will go toward Purdue's total. Other drives hosted by schools and colleges also will be held on campus in the weeks before the deadline.
Kelli Cornelius, field representative for the Indiana Blood Center, said the true winners in the challenge are donation recipients.
"Most people don't realize the volume of blood necessary to keep people healthy every day," Cornelius said. "The Indiana Blood Center is the main blood supplier for Indiana hospitals, and we need a minimum of 550 donations daily to meet that need. Emergencies and natural disasters require even more. We're excited that Purdue and IU are working to make a difference in this friendly and life-saving competition."
Purdue leads the series 6-5 but has not won since 2004. Last year, Purdue and Indiana collected 8,296 blood donations. Donations can be made at American Red Cross sites, Indiana Blood Centers, the Community Blood Center, the Heartland Blood Center, the Hoxworth Blood Center or at mobile blood drives held between now and the deadline. For a complete list of participating sites, as well as more information about the donation process, go to https://www.purduealum.org and click on the "Blood Donor Challenge" icon.
Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Sources: Brandi Farrer, director of student and young alumni programs, Purdue Alumni Association, (765) 494-5180, brandi@purdue.edu
Kelli Cornelius, (765) 446-4216
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue Pete prepares to give blood as part of the Purdue vs. Indiana University Blood Donor Challenge. Purdue will have a blood drive on Wednesday (Oct. 22) as part of the drive, which runs statewide through Nov. 14. The competition encourages the public and students to give blood at their local blood centers in the name of one of the universities. The challenge winner will be announced at the Old Oaken Bucket football game between Purdue and Indiana at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 22. (Purdue Alumni Association photo)
A publication-quality photo is available at: https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2008/bucket-blood-drive.jpg
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