One week into the competition shows MSU in the lead, collecting 104 percent of its 1,275 units of blood goal with only 20 percent of its scheduled blood drives completed, according to a press release from the Red Cross. U-M has completed 70 percent of its blood drives and has collected 100 percent of its goal.

Amanda DeGraaf, Red Cross chair of Alpha Phi Omega — a coed service fraternity at MSU not related to the greek system — was one of the many students who were involved in planning a blood drive as a part of the challenge.

The challenge is meant to encourage student groups on each campus to host blood drives and gather donors for the American Red Cross, said DeGraaf, a kinesiology junior.

“(The fraternity) has always been involved with the Red Cross,” she said. “(We) really do like planning blood drives and getting people to sign up.”

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity hosted a blood drive at the International Center on Tuesday. The fraternity, which DeGraaf said has more than 100 members, recruited some of its own members as well as other MSU students to donate through a Facebook event.

“We were able to get a few people to set up appointments online and had a few walk-ins,” DeGraaf said. “The people who donate are saving three lives, and the Red Cross is always in need of blood donors.”

Overall, MSU will be hosting 21 blood drives during the three-week challenge in the hopes to redeem itself this year after last year’s loss to U-M.

Briana Blomstrom, an animal science junior, donated blood for the second time during Tuesday’s drive.

“I (donate blood) to be helpful,” Blomstrom said. “I have O positive blood, so (the Red Cross) keeps calling me and asking me to donate.”

Blomstrom had no complaints after her blood donation.

“It’s not really that painful,” Blomstrom said. “It just pinches for a second when the needle goes in. I feel fine.”

Students who choose to donate are entered into a drawing to win either a free one-night stay in the East Lansing Marriott, 300 M.A.C. Ave., free pizza from Cottage Inn or an Xbox 360 gaming system.
Kelly Weber, a Red Cross worker and campus blood drive coordinator, said students should prepare to donate before showing up to a blood drive.

“(Students) should start hydrating a few days before donating and decrease their caffeine consumption,” Weber said. “We want all of our donors to be hydrated and rested.”

Weber further advised potential donors to eat iron-rich foods so they do not get turned away from donating because of low iron levels.

The next blood drive is being hosted by the MSU greek community from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at IM Sports-West.