Big East rivals go head-to-head in support of massive blood collection competition.
Two BIG EAST foes are facing off for a good cause to support their local communities. Butler University and Marquette University have once again teamed up with Versiti Blood Centers to compete in the second annual Butler vs. Marquette Blood Battle. The eight-month competition is an opportunity for each school to rally students, alums, and community members to donate blood to assist local patients in need.
Versiti, a national leader in blood health innovation, serves more than 145 hospital partners across Indiana and Wisconsin and is the primary blood drive partner for both schools.
"The Blood Battle is a great way for Butler and Marquette students and fans to support their schools, as well as their local community, by making a lifesaving donation," said Versiti President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Miskel. "We are grateful for this continued partnership and look forward to witnessing this friendly competition's profound, lifesaving impact."
“At Marquette, we ask our students, faculty, and staff to be men and women for others and with others. Through giving blood, we are living that mission," said Marquette University President Michael R. Lovell. "We are thrilled to once again compete against Butler University in a friendly BIG EAST contest and showcase the servant leadership that makes our universities unique. I strongly encourage the Marquette community, whether for service or school pride, to get involved and participate in this important endeavor."
All blood collected in the competition will serve patients within their respective communities.
"There is nothing like a competitive challenge between two great BIG EAST foes to get the blood flowing, both metaphorically speaking and in actuality," said James Danko, president of Butler University. "We know there are many patients in need of blood within our Indianapolis community, and I have no doubt our Butler community will come up big for those in need."
Attempting donors at select blood drives on each campus will receive an exclusive Butler vs. Marquette competition t-shirt and attempting donors at all drives will receive various thank-you giveaways. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit Versiti.org/BUVSMUBB.
What to know about blood donation
- Every two seconds, someone needs lifesaving blood to survive. One donation can save up to three lives.
- The donation process, including registration and testing, takes about an hour. Because your body constantly replaces blood and fluids, blood donation doesn't take a major toll on the human body.
- There is no substitute for blood donation — blood cannot be manufactured. It can only come from volunteer donors.
- Roughly 40 percent of Americans can donate blood, but only about 3 percent do so.
- Blood donation can help patients of all ages who are victims of traumatic accidents, patients of organ transplants, or fighting through diseases like cancer.
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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 healthcare 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 customers. The collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org.