Lifeline Blood Services could be seen in front of the U.C. drawing blood from warriors of UTM’s annual “Blood Battle” Sept. 11-13.
The drive was a three-day event, which received contributions from students, faculty and community members.
Previously, the Blood Battle was a competition between Murray State and UTM to get the most blood donations. UTM has only suffered two losses since the competition began in 1995.
When the contest first started, the champion of each year would gain possession of a traveling trophy. However, the past four years have been lacking in the competitive element, as Murray State no longer participates.
Tammy Hurst, the recruitment manager for Lifeline Blood Services, described the new outlook saying, “Now it’s just a battle to save lives.”
The Blood Battle was made possible through the coordination of Hurst and the students and faculty of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Danelle Fabianich, Assistant Director of SAAC, has worked with this blood drive every fall for the past 10 years to assist in its success.
The effort of these students and faculty is reflected in the massive amounts of blood donated each fall. For example, this is the only blood drive big enough to require all three of the Lifeline Blood Services buses for two full days. This past year alone, the drive took in 325 donations or 287 pints of blood.
Although this is UTM’s first and biggest blood drive of the school year, it is not the only drive.
In fact, there are three more blood drives throughout the school year that are assisted by different student organizations.
These drives are hosted by the MED in November, varying groups in February, and Alpha Gamma Rho in April.
The dates of these drives are strategically placed at least 56 days apart which is the minimum wait-time between making blood donations. This helps ensure that students at UTM can be repeat donors.
This year, though a success, continues the battle for lives.
Lifeline Blood Services with the help of the countless warriors both on campus and off, fights to reach their goal of 25,000 pints of blood this year.
The next blood drive at UTM will be held Nov. 13-14, with two more planned for the spring semester.
