Carolina and Clemson fans face off at 30th annual Red Cross blood drive
November 6, 2014
Monday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 21 | Fans invited to bleed garnet and orange to help save lives
Fans of the Carolina Gamecocks and the Clemson Tigers will take their rivalry off the field to help save lives at the 30th annual Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive. Donors will bleed garnet or orange to earn pints for their favorite school before the football teams face off for points.
The blood drive will be held Monday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 21 on both school campuses. All University of South Carolina and Clemson University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans are encouraged to participate.
The Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive is held annually the week before the Carolina-Clemson football game. The drive comes at the start of the holiday season when blood donations typically decrease. Over the past 30 years of competition, the universities have collected about 100,000 pints of blood, potentially saving up to 300,000 lives.
“The Carolina Clemson drive is one of the largest blood drives in the country,” said Ryan Corcoran, Community CEO for the South Carolina Blood Services Region. “The impact of this drive cannot be understated. Thousands of patients will receive a potentially lifesaving gift through the efforts of students and fans.”
In 2014, USC won the drive for the sixth consecutive year. With the win, USC secured a 15-14 lead overall in the annual competition. The 2014 event was very close, with a total of 7,417 donors presenting to give blood — 4,124 for Carolina and 3,293 for Clemson.
All presenting blood donors at the University of South Carolina will receive a commemorative blood drive T-shirt and the chance to enter to win giveaways items from local businesses. Refreshments will be served.
The coveted blood drive trophy will be awarded to the winning team at the game on Nov. 29 at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Appointments are not necessary; simply stop by and donate at one of the following locations:
Monday, Nov. 17
- Russell House Ballroom, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Thomas Cooper Library, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Colonial Life Arena, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 18
- Russell House Ballroom, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Thomas Cooper Library, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile at the Close/Hipp Building (old business school near Capstone dorms), 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile in Greek Village, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
- Russell House Ballroom, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Thomas Cooper Library, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Two blood mobile in Greek Village, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile at the Solomon Blatt P.E. Center, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20
- Russell House Ballroom, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Thomas Cooper Library, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile at the College of Engineering and Computing, Swearingen Engineering Center, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Blood mobile at the Koger Center for the Arts, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21
- Russell House Ballroom, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Blood mobile at Thomas Cooper Library, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Two blood mobiles in Greek Village, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Trauma patients, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood. The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospital patients have the blood and platelets they need to make a full recovery. Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets just five days, so they must be replenished constantly – there is no substitute.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
