Rupp Arena, Yum! Center Drives Coming Up Jan. 20, 2017

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center is giving Kentucky and Louisville fans the opportunity to bleed Wildcat blue or Cardinal red at the upcoming Rupp Arena and KBC Yum! Center blood drives.

Rupp Arena Blood Drive
Tuesday, Jan. 24
10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

KFC Yum! Center Blood Drive
Tuesday, Feb. 21 
Noon to 6 p.m. 

“This is a special chance for basketball fans to get on the court, shoot some hoops and then save a Kentucky patient’s life,” said Martha Osborne, Executive Director of Marketing & Recruitment for Kentucky Blood Center (KBC). “This is our fifth year to do the Rupp Arena Blood Drive and our second time at Yum! Fans of both schools enjoy walking onto the floor and seeing the arena like the players do.” 

Each blood drive will provide fans the opportunity to take some shots and some photos prior to donating. Everyone who registers to donate will also receive a special long-sleeve shirt and opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds in Indianapolis in March. 

To add to the fun of the day at the Rupp Drive, Matt Jones and his KSR show will broadcast live beginning at 10 a.m. John Ramsey will bring his WAVE 3 Listens Live show to Yum! at 12:30 p.m. 

The Rupp Arena Blood Drive is part of KBC’s Big Blue Slam, the yearly blood battle between Kentucky and Florida fans. Slam, which runs Jan. 23-27, is a fun way to assure a strong winter blood supply. 

Area donors can also give at the Middletown Donor Center, which is located at 12905 Shelbyville Road, near Buffalo Wild Wings, Target and Walmart. The donor center will be open special hours during Big Blue Slam Week – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

For more information about any of these KBC events or to find other donation locations, donors can call 800.775.2522. No appointments are necessary at either blood drive or Middletown Donor Center. 

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. 

For more information about KBC and blood donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522. 

Founded nearly 50 years ago, KBC 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.