IU defeats Purdue in blood challenge

Purdue might have snatched the Oaken Bucket out of IU's grasp at the football game Saturday, but the Hoosiers didn't leave West Lafayette empty-handed. \nIU won the annual Indiana vs. Purdue Blood Donor Challenge for the second year in a row. \nIU alumni, students and fans donated 4,700 units of blood, topping the 3,895 units donated by Purdue supporters, according to an IU press release. The total of 8,595 units donated is a record for the competition, surpassing the previous record of 7,669 set last year. \nThe Blood Donor Challenge began in 1997 in Indianapolis when the Central Indiana chapter of the IU Alumni Association and the Purdue Alumni Association teamed up with the Indiana Blood Center for a competitive blood drive, said Bridget E. Sutton, director of programs for IUAA. The challenge started off small but has grown little by little each year and now covers the entire state, she said. \nThis marks the 10th year the rival schools have faced off in the blood drive. Purdue leads the series 6-4. \nThis year's challenge kicked off Sept. 18. Participants could donate blood in the name of either university at Indiana Blood Centers, the American Red Cross or at several other locations throughout the state, according to the press release. The challenge ended Nov. 10. \nJane Hoeppner, wife of IU football coach Terry Hoeppner, and Arnette Tiller, wife of Purdue football coach Joe Tiller, acted as honorary chairwomen for the 2006 Blood Donor Challenge. Hoeppner and Tiller presented the traveling trophy -- a replica of the Old Oaken Bucket -- to IU at halftime of Saturday's game. Stan Fox, chairman of the IU Alumni Association, and Sutton accepted the trophy on behalf of the IUAA. \nBoth schools will be honored with a silver medal for "Best Collaborative Program" at the annual conference of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award honoring the success of the Blood Donor Challenge will be presented at the organization's conference Dec. 10-12 in Chicago.\nSophomore Angela Battafarano said she wishes she could have participated in the drive but was unable to because she doesn't meet the minimum weight requirement of 110 pounds to give blood. She said blood donations are extremely important and she appreciates those who donate. \n"The blood drive is a good cause because it helps people who really need it," Battafarano said. "My mom had to have a blood transfusion, and if it wouldn't have been for people donating blood, she could have died"