UD sets new blood drive record

1:57 p.m., Nov. 20, 2003--The University of Delaware held its most successful one-day blood drive ever yesterday, with 406 donors showing up at the Trabant University Center to participate in the second annual Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge.

The number of the total units of blood collected, 326, also is a single-day UD record, according to Emily Fowlie, external communications coordinator for the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore, which hosted the drive.

“We are thrilled with the turnout,” Fowlie said. “We want to thank UD students and staff for their support.”

The 2003 “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge at UD also turned out to be the biggest one-day drive ever for the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore.

Last year, University of Delaware President David P. Roselle, who was one of yesterday’s donors, challenged the 10 member institutions of the CAA to a friendly competition to save lives by seeing which school could recruit the most donors during a one-day blood drive. CAA agreed to organize the “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge last fall, and UD beat out all other schools by recruiting 374 donors in 2002.

In addition to UD, other CAA schools participating in the “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge include UNC Wilmington, Drexel, George Mason, Hofstra, James Madison, Old Dominion, Towson and the Virginia Commonwealth universities and the College of William and Mary.

K.C. Keeler, UD football head coach, gives blood with the aid of phlebotomist Debbie Sullivan.

Among those turning out for yesterday’s blood drive was Fighting Blue Hens head football coach K.C. Keeler, who said that after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, it was especially important to volunteer to be a blood donor.

“You don’t always see where the blood that you give goes,” Keeler said. “You do know that it is needed. You just have to do it.”

Mary Ann Hitchens, senior associate director, Intercollegiate Athletics, also was among the early arrivals at the Trabant University Center.

“It really is a win-win situation,” Hitchens said. “You can give blood that is badly needed, and also help UD repeat as winner in the CAA ‘Have a Heart’ Blood Challenge.”

Michael J. Ginzberg, dean of the Lerner College of Business and Economics, who first became a blood donor while a freshman at MIT, said he usually gives blood at least one a year.

“It’s not painful, and it doesn’t take long,” Ginzberg said. “It also is a valuable service.”

Student groups sponsoring the blood drive and helping to staff the canteen area where donors stop for refreshments and rest after giving blood included the Resident Student Life Association, HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Latino Americans) and Kappa Alpah Theta Sorority.

Fowlie said yesterday’s “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge will help to meet the heavier demands during the coming holiday season.

“We are storing up blood for the Thanksgiving holiday, and there is always a blood shortage during this time of the year,” Fowlie said. “Coming out and giving blood is a good way to kick off the holidays.”

Members of the UD community who missed yesterday’s blood drive or could not be processed due the large turnout, can still donate blood for the holiday season by calling the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore at 737-8400.

The next UD blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 25-26. For more information, call the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore at 737-8400.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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