Big Blue Slam 2017 Jan. 22, 2017

Donors Can Bleed Blue, Save a Life, Beat the Gators

Big Blue Slam 2017 is Jan. 23-27.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky fans can show the Florida Gators who are the best off the court by donating Jan. 23-27 during Big Blue Slam, the annual blood battle between Kentucky and Florida. 

The friendly competition between Kentucky Blood Center and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers in Gainesville pits fans of the Cats and the Gators to see who can donate the most blood the last week in January. Kentucky and Florida are tied, each winning four times since their competition began in 2009. 

“The real winners in this battle, though, are the Kentucky and Florida patients who require blood transfusions every day,” said Martha Osborne, KBC’s Executive Director for Marketing and Recruitment. 

Everyone who registers to donate during Slam will receive a black Big Blue Slam T-shirt

Slam the Gators and Get a Free T-Shirt

Everyone who registers to donate during Slam will receive a black Big Blue Slam T-shirt and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship First/Second Rounds in Indianapolis on March 17 and 19. 

Also during Slam week, KBC will host the fifth annual Rupp Arena Blood Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Donors can shoot around on the court, take some pictures and then donate blood. No appointments are necessary, and parking is free in the Manchester Street lot behind the arena. Donors should enter the arena from the Manchester parking lot. 

KBC donor centers will be open special hours during Slam week, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday. 

Blood donors must be 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.

About Kentucky Blood Center

KBC, founded in 1968, is the largest independent, full-service, non-profit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky hospitals.