The goal is to collect more than 1,500 pints of blood for local patients
The rivalry between The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan is already epic on the field. But for more than four decades, the two universities have joined forces in a competition off the field to address a critical need in health care –a shortage of blood for patients.
The 42nd Annual Blood Battle between The Ohio State University and Michigan runs from Oct. 25 — Nov. 22, with a series of 48 blood drives across the campus area. Ohio State won the competition in 2022 for the first time in five years — so students, faculty, alumni and community members are encouraged to donate and defend the title.
Versiti Blood Center of Ohio hopes to collect a minimum of 1,500 units of blood, that will be available for patients at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“Don’t think of it as a bag of blood but instead imagine the lives that are being saved,” said Danielle Falconer, area vice president and director of donor services at Versiti Blood Center of Ohio. “The competition and collaboration from both universities collected more than 3,100 pints of blood in 2022 and saved more than 9,000 lives.”
Blood Battle Details
The Blood Battle kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Ohio Union. Brutus Buckeye, along with Ohio State defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr. and Ohio State offensive lineman Avery Henry will be on hand to cheer on and thank donors for their support. Henry is now cancer free after receiving treatment at The James Cancer Hospital for bone cancer.
Everyone who donates blood during “kickoff week” will receive a free Blood Battle T-shirt, a $5 Roosters gift card, and will be entered in a drawing to win four tickets to the home football matchup between Ohio State and Michigan State University on Nov. 11. Additional major blood drives include:
The Next Generation of Donors
One of the biggest challenges facing the nation’s blood supply is the loss of a significant portion of donors under the age of 30. The Buckeye Blood Club at Ohio State wants to attract the next generation of blood donors by educating and inspiring students to roll up their sleeves. The club will host and promote events across campus that include Oval takeovers and competitions between dorms and student organizations.
“People our age believe in giving back to the community and we want to tap into that spirit of giving,” said Lindsey Pia, president of The Buckeye Blood Club. “There is not a comparable volunteer gig that can have a life-or-death impact with as little as an hour of time commitment.”
Donation Details
For a complete listing of drives and to schedule an appointment visit Versiti.org/bloodbattle. The whole process takes about an hour, and donors will need to bring identification. To expedite the donation process, the health history questionnaire can be completed online during the day of the scheduled appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Free parking vouchers are available to donors for most drives.
Keep up to date on the competition by checking out the scheduling site or by following Versiti Blood Center of Ohio on Facebook, X and Instagram. Check out more interesting facts about blood donation here.
About Versiti
Versiti, a national leader in blood health innovation, was formed with the mission to improve the health of patients and enable the success of our health care partners nationally. We provide innovative, value-added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases to meet the needs of each of our hospital partners. The collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for health care systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org.