The American Red Cross kicked off the 20th annual MSU-PSU Blood Challenge Monday to celebrate two decades of saving lives through healthy collegiate competition.
The target goal for this year’s three-week challenge is 2,000 blood units donated each from MSU and Pennsylvania State University. During the last 19 years, the schools collectively have gathered more than 68,000 units of blood and potentially have saved more than 200,000 lives.
The competition first began when the Student Red Cross Clubs from both schools decided to team up to boost the donation supply rate around the holiday season, when blood donations traditionally are lower.
Since MSU only has claimed six wins in the past 19 years, and after only losing by 13 blood units last year, MSU American Red Cross representative and alumna Shannon Smith said each student organization is working diligently to win this year.
“There are 35 different student organizations sponsoring drives and helping out with the challenge,” Smith said. “It’s a competitive, fun challenge that helps save lives. Seventy-five percent of donated blood is by high school and college students, so I think it’s really important to carry the tradition on to keep people involved.”
Former-MSU basketball player Delvon Roe has put together a public service announcement for any previous donor who has donated during the challenge in the Lansing Donor Center to come out and donate again.
Media sponsors such as WLNS-TV 6 and student groups on campus also are working hard to get the word out and encourage all eligible students, staff, alumni and fans to donate at one of the many blood drive locations across campus.
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities senior Emily Topham said after hearing about the drive she was eager to participate — not just to possibly save a life, but to help beat an MSU rival.
“It’s just the competitive spirit,” Topham said. “We just beat Michigan on Saturday; these drives are for a good cause and if you can show-up a rival by doing it, why not?”
To help boost donor participation, Smith said this year each donor will receive a free commemorative T-shirt and be entered in a raffle to win one of three Kindle Paperwhites and one of 20 $20 gift cards to Jimmy John’s.
After 20 years of the challenge, PSU Student Red Cross Club president Nina Farrell said it’s important to keep the competition going to supply local reserves in both states with the necessary blood.
“A little healthy competition between our schools is good and, in the end, the real winners are all of the blood recipients that benefit from both schools’ collections,” Farrell said.
To schedule an appointment to donate visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter ‘MSU’ for the sponsor code.
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