If you’re an MTSU student, professor, staffer, alumnus or supporter, you can make an appointment today to donate your life-saving blood on campus Oct. 29-31 and help MTSU “Bleed Blue, Beat WKU.”

 

The annual blood-drive competition, now in its third year, pits the Blue Raiders against the rival Western Kentucky Hilltoppers before the teams meet on the gridiron. MTSU has won the blood drive twice and has split the game wins with Western.

 

The 1,059 units of blood collected in the 2011 rivalry helped 3,177 local hospital patients, since each donation can help up to three people, Red Cross officials said. Reaching the 2012 goal of 1,200 units would mean helping save the lives of 3,600 people in the region.

 

Beginning today, Aug. 27, MTSU supporters can make online appointments at www.redcrossblood.org to donate blood Oct. 29-31. Donations can be made in the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center on Blue Raider Drive on the east side of campus. Appointments are available:

 

• noon-6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29;

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30; and

• 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

 

MTSU supporters can click the blue "Enter Sponsor Code" box in the middle of the Red Cross page and then enter "mtsu19" to register and make an appointment.

 

“We want to encourage everyone in the MTSU community to be ‘True Blue’ and ‘Bleed Blue’ as we compete against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to collect the most units of blood during our third annual rivalry blood drive,” said Chris Massaro, MTSU director of athletics. “It is a great way for both universities to save lives and help members of our community in a very special way.”

 

Walk-in donors will be welcome, but organizers are encouraging MTSU donors to make their appointments now to get the most convenient times and speedier processing on donation day. Reserved parking also will be available for blood donors all three days.

 

The winner of the 2012 "Bleed Blue-Beat WKU" drive will be announced at halftime of the MTSU-WKU game on Thursday, Nov. 1, in Bowling Green, Ky., at WKU’s Smith Stadium.