October 17, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
John Petersen
(801) 327-8157
Utah Valley University has agreed to a "blood battle" against Utah’s second newest university, Weber State. During the month of October the two schools will compete to see which can donate the most blood to the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross Blood Services will be on site at each campus conducting the competition and facilitating donation services.
From Oct. 20-24, volunteers at UVU will set up booths across campus where students, faculty and staff can sign up for the blood drive. Actual blood donation will take place the following week on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sorensen Student Center’s Ballroom Commons area. The blood drive at Weber State University will be held two days earlier.
"I am really excited to be involved with the blood drive," said John Holbrook, president of the Pre-physician Assistants Club and director of the blood drive’s marketing on campus. "I think it is a great way to help the community. I am also excited about the competition because I think it will bring more school spirit - something we always need."
UVU accepted its first challenge in organized, upper-division blood donation because of the great need of blood across the state. In August alone the state required 1,700 units for trauma and transplant surgeries in northern Utah, a record high that nearly tapped out blood banks.
"In Utah, every eight minutes someone needs blood," said Anita Kay, donor recruiter for the Red Cross. "The American Red Cross supplies blood to more than 40 hospitals in the state and, since the storage time for blood is limited, the Red Cross needs to collect an average of 2,350 units of blood each week to meet patient’s needs."
Competition tends to get people moving and motivated - a fact that has been proven by previous blood-giving contests. In this year’s annual September drive between the University of Utah and Utah State University, Utah State won with 1,235 units donated by students on campus. That blood will cover nearly a week of what will be needed in their local hospitals, and acts as a huge relief for Red Cross workers.
UVU’s goal is to collect 100 units, one unit per person. The first 100 students to donate blood, fulfilling this goal, will receive a free J-Dawg courtesy of Bob Rasmussen, assistant vice president of Student Services, and UVU’s Service Council.
# # #
College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807
Written by:
Hanna Hopkinson
(801) 863-7205