U-M collects a record-setting 424 units of blood
U-M scored big this weekend in the 36th Annual Blood Battle against Ohio State.
Donors showed up at Michigan Stadium Sunday to help the American Red Cross collect 424 units of blood, a new record and the largest one-day blood drive on the U-M campus.
Dozens more signed up as organ donors and were screened for Be the Match, the national bone marrow registry. Just one organ donor can save up to eight lives and the waiting list grows.
Michigan Stadium holds about the same number of people who are now waiting for a life-saving organ transplant nationwide — about 110,000 people.
Sunday’s total of blood donations counts in the U-M’s quest to keep the trophy in the Blood Battle. For 36 years — since 1981 — the Blood Battle challenges each university’s supporters to bring in the most blood donations in the weeks before the football teams face-off, which will take place this year on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor.
OSU won the Blood Battle for the second straight time last year.
Sunday’s Be a Hero at the Big House event was sponsored by Wolverines for Life along with the American Red Cross, Be the Match/National Marrow Donor Program, Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight Michigan.
If you couldn’t donate blood on Sunday, more community Red Cross blood drives are planned. Find a list of blood drives online or by calling 1-800- RED CROSS. Use sponsor code GOBLUE when donating.
