Blood drive competition sets new record

It was a long and bloody battle, but in the end Purdue University pulled ahead to win the seventh annual Blood Donor Challenge.\nThis year marked a new record for the blood drive, with Purdue and IU rallying a total 5,021 donations, beating last year's total of 4,678.\n"When it comes to saving a life, the bottom-line is competition stirs people up for a good cause," said Kellie Cox, director of Alumni Clubs for Purdue.\nPurdue out-donated IU by only 21 donations in the challenge, which ran from Oct. 13 through Nov. 14.\n"It was neck-and-neck a lot of the way, but we pressed ahead by sending out e-mails to students and alumni reminding people that we were in the lead," Cox said. "I think that motivates people if you remind them and keep them involved. If you only tell them once they tend to forget."\nThe Blood Donor Challenge began seven years ago when Indianapolis IU Alumni Club challenged the Purdue Alumni Club to a blood drive. Since then it has expanded to include more than half the state.\nIU has only won the competition twice -- in its first year of existence and last year.\nThe traveling trophy for the school that donates the most blood will be presented to Purdue at Saturday's football game.\n"I don't know if Purdue did anything differently, but it was very close," said John Hobson, senior vice president of the IU Alumni Association. "We had more donors than ever, and we're pleased to have that much blood donated to save the lives of hospital patients throughout the state."\nThe record-setting donations are especially appreciated during a time of year that has been unusually slow.\n"This fall has not been the best," Donor Recruitment Representative Amber Richardson told the IDS at the beginning of the blood drive. "We are at a day supply. We need to be at a three-day supply."\nThough IU did not collect as much blood as Purdue, Hobson was just glad to see so much support from the community.\n"The IU Alumni Association appreciates all of the students, alumni and fans who took the time to donate blood to IU," he said.\nAnd already, there are plans for next year's blood drive.\n"Of course we want to do it again," Hobson said. "It's a beneficial community service project alumni and students enjoy participating in, and it helps people all over the state"