No losers in blood center’s ‘Big Blue Slam’ against Florida

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- It’s a contest where outscoring your opponent means everyone wins and lives are saved.

The 8th annual “Big Blue Slam”, put on by Kentucky Blood Center draws hundreds to Rupp Arena in hopes of shooting some hoops, getting some shirts and beating the Florida Gators. By “beating” the blood center sets a goal of collecting more units of blood than the SEC rival.

Thursday afternoon, less than 24-hours removed from a Solid Blue slaughter of the Mizzou Tigers, Solid Blue fans and donors steadily entered Rupp Arena through a rear door, seeing the venue they’re used to in a whole new light and one more dire.

“I took several shots. My percentage was not very high, not nearly high as brother Willis last night,” says one donor.

Martha Osborne, Executive Director of Marketing and Recruiting at KBC says the latest winter storm hurt donations statewide.  “We lost over 700 donations in the last week,” she says. “We have cancellations in southern Kentucky even for tomorrow because they still have not recovered enough from the weather.”

“Big Blue Slam” hopes to make up for some of those lost units by drawing in donors with the opportunity to shoot hoops on the same floor as storied Wildcats, t-shirts and a spinning wheel of prizes. The incentives don’t overshadow the need though.

“Well, I give platelets every two weeks,” says Joe Vonderheide. Joe brings his laptop to Rupp. He’s multi-tasking by working while donating platelets.  “It feels pretty good. It’s definitely needed for cancer patients and accident victims, operations and whatever, you know?”

Although “Big Blue Slam” is over there are ways to learn about becoming a donor. Find them www.kybloodcenter.org.