Narrow First-Day Margin Sets the Stage for Five-Day Battle

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Florida jumped in front of Kentucky on the first day of the 17th annual Big Blue Slam with an early 251-236 donation lead.
Kentucky Blood Center and LifeSouth Community Blood Center in Florida are just getting started in a five-day blood battle to collect the most blood and provide the local supply with a much-needed mid-winter boost.
“Year after year, this event proves to come down to the margins,” said Mandy Brajuha, VP for external relations at KBC. “Florida has the early advantage, but we have confidence our donor base is going to step up in the coming days. We’ll need a strong turnout to beat LifeSouth, but more than anything else, we need donors to help us recoup our losses from a difficult last few weeks of collecting blood.”
As if defeating rival Florida isn’t enough incentive for Kentucky fans in this annual competition, the importance of this year’s event has been magnified by subpar January blood collections. Between drive cancellations, shortened hours of operation and an uptick in transfusions, wintry weather conditions in 2025 have led to a low blood supply.
Donors are needed to regain an estimated 1,000-plus units of blood lost in recent weeks due to winter-weather cancellations and to extend KBC’s four-year Big Blue Slam winning streak. KBC leads the overall series 10-6.

Donations this week and throughout the year support local patients at more than 70 hospitals in Kentucky. KBC relies on the generosity of donors to provide blood to UK HealthCare, Baptist Health, CHI Saint Joseph, Appalachian Regional Healthcare and more.
There will be plenty of opportunities for donors to participate on Tuesday. All eight KBC donor centers (located in Lexington, Louisville, Corbin, Frankfort and Somerset) will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and mobile drives will be open to the public on the University of Kentucky’s campus and in Clay, Pulaski and Wayne counties. All donors will receive a retro Big Blue Slam T-shirt as a thank you for saving local lives.
To view available drives or to schedule an appointment, donors can visit bit.ly/BigBlueSlam2025 or call 800.775.2522. Appointments are highly encouraged during Big Blue Slam. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
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.
Schedule Your Appointment and Slam the Gators!
About Kentucky Blood Center
KBC, the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, has been saving local lives since 1968. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area (Corbin).