Kentucky Ends Strong, But Vols Take Back the Trophy
![A donor gives blood during Big Blue Crush 2018.](https://ky-blood-center.imgix.net/e0ca8231-aad7-48dc-8a53-d6cb47372503/Crush_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&dpi=72&fit=min&fm=jpg&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C411%2C506&w=800&s=96152caf3827c6c9c3e96477d8ec0c81)
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky had its biggest day of the week – 663 donors – to finish up Big Blue Crush, but it still wasn’t enough to overcome Tennessee’s lead. The Vols took the week and the trophy, 3,057 to 2,739.
“While we may have lost the competition, we are celebrating the thousands of Kentucky donors who came to our blood drives and donor centers this week to prove they bleed blue and to save lives,” said Martha Osborne, Vice President of Marketing for Kentucky Blood Center (KBC). “Blood is on the shelves in both Kentucky and Tennessee ready to help patients in need Thanksgiving week and throughout December. This is why we do this every year. Thank you to everyone who participated.”
To assure a sufficient blood supply for the holidays, Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) and Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville have had an ongoing friendly competition since 1988 to see whose donors can give the most blood the week prior to Thanksgiving week. UK, which had won the past eight years, now leads the rivalry 17 to 13 with one tie.
About Kentucky Blood Center
Celebrating 50 years of saving lives in Kentucky, KBC is the largest independent, full-service, non-profit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Somerset.