Big Blue Slam Blood Drive Kicks Off

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Solid Blue fans can show the Florida Gators who are the best off the court by donating between January 23rd and the 27th during the annual Big Blue Slam blood drive.

The blood drive pits the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) against LifeSouth Community Blood Centers in Gainesville as fans of the Cats and the Gators see who can donate the most blood during the last week in January. Kentucky and Florida are tied, each winning 4 times since their competition began in 2009.

“The real winners in this battle, though, are the Kentucky and Florida patients who require blood transfusions every day,” said Martha Osborne, KBC’s Executive Director for Marketing and Recruitment.

Everyone who registers to donate during Slam will receive a blue Big Blue Slam T-shirt and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship First/Second Rounds in Indianapolis on March 17 and 19.

Also during Slam week, KBC will host the fifth annual Rupp Arena Blood Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Donors can shoot around on the court, take some pictures and then donate blood. No appointments are necessary, and parking is free in the Manchester Street lot behind the arena. Donors should enter the arena from the Manchester parking lot.

KBC donor centers will be open special hours during Slam week, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday at the following locations:

• Lexington
  • Andover Donor Center
    • Andover Shoppes in Lexington
    • 3130 Mapleleaf Dr
  • Beaumont Donor Center
    • Beaumont Centre in Lexington
    • 3121 Beaumont Centre Cir
• Louisville
  • Middletown Donor Center
    • near Buffalo Wild Wings in Louisville
    • 12905 Shelbyville Rd
• Pikeville
  • Pikeville Donor Center
    • 472 S. Mayo Trail
• Somerset
  • Somerset Donor Center
  • 10 Stonegate Centre at Stoplight 16A

For more information about the Rupp Arena Blood Drive, Big Blue Slam or to find Big Blue Slam blood drives, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522. No appointments are necessary.

Blood donors must be 17-years-old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.