Kentucky Fans Can Beat Tennessee, Save Lives During Annual Blood Battle
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky fans are asked to bleed blue, beat rival Tennessee fans and shore up the holiday blood supply during Kentucky Blood Center’s annual Big Blue Crush next week.
The 37th annual blood battle returns Nov. 18–22 at all KBC locations to ensure a healthy blood supply for the Thanksgiving holiday. The yearly competition pits KBC against MEDIC Regional Blood Center in Knoxville, Tennessee to see which group of Southeastern Conference rival fans can collect the most blood.
“We are excited to get this year’s Big Blue Crush underway,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations at KBC. “We always look forward to this event, but we really need a big turnout this year after a slow fall donation season. In many ways, this competition is just like the football game that we gear this annual event around: It’s going to take a team effort from all of Big Blue Nation for four quarters – in this case, five days – to secure a victory and give the blood supply a much-needed boost.”
Although Tennessee got the best of Kentucky on the football field earlier this month, Kentucky fans have proven their passion in this all-important portion of the rivalry. KBC has won four of the last five blood battles and 12 of the last 14, including last year. Overall, Kentucky leads the series vs. Tennessee 21-14-1.
To secure another victory and a healthy blood supply for patients at the 70-plus hospitals KBC supplies, donors must roll up their sleeves next week. There is no substitute for human blood, so hospitals and patients must rely on the generosity of volunteer blood donors. KBC is the exclusive blood provider for UK HealthCare, Baptist Health, CHI Saint Joseph, Appalachian Regional Healthcare and more.
Donors can give at any of KBC’s eight donor centers or mobile dives throughout the week. Most KBC donor centers, which can be found here, are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Big Blue Crush. Mobile drives can be found at bit.ly/BigBlueCrush2024.
All donors who give blood during the competition will receive a Big Blue Crush long-sleeve shirt and a chance to win two tickets to the Kentucky-Louisville football at Kroger Field on Nov. 30. Donors who visit one of KBC’s eight donor centers will also receive a coupon for a free pint of Blue Bell ice cream (while supplies last).
Big Blue Crush was established between the two nonprofit community blood centers in 1988 to ensure blood is available for the Thanksgiving holiday and into December. The need for blood traditionally increases during holidays when donations are in short supply.
A healthy blood supply is critical to treating patients with cancer, providing support for surgeries, giving premature babies the gift of life, treating diseases such as sickle cell anemia, saving trauma patients and so much more. One in seven patients admitted to a hospital will need a blood transfusion.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.
Donors can schedule an appointment at kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522. Appointments are highly encouraged during Big Blue Crush. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
