The 22nd annual Carolina Blood Drive Tuesday (June 8) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill collected 976 units of blood, enough to affect as many as 2,928 lives.
The 22nd annual Carolina Blood Drive Tuesday (June 8) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill collected 976 units of blood, enough to affect as many as 2,928 lives.
Katrina Coble, chair of the Carolina Blood Drive Committee, had a message for donors and volunteers from campus and community: “Patients and/or families in area hospitals today are thanking you for the blood you gave on their behalf. It takes more than 1,600 units of blood daily for the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross to meet the needs of hospitals, and Tar Heels supplied the majority of that need for one day through this effort.”
The drive remains one of the largest on the East Coast but fell short of its goal of topping 1,060 units – needed to beat Appalachian State University’s record as the state’s top blood drive. Appalachian holds its drives in September, when students are on campus to promote them and participate. UNC drives are held in summer and winter to help at times when donations drop because of vacations and the absence of student donors.
“Although we did not reclaim the title from the Mountaineers, Tar Heel donors can feel proud of their selfless contributions that will help patients with cancer and many other illnesses,” Coble said.
The drive is organized by a committee of representatives from across campus and the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross. UNC sponsors are human resources, Student Stores, athletics and printing services. For more information, visit http://www.unc.edu/blood/.
UNC contact: Katrina Coble, (919) 962-1801, coble@cs.unc.edu
ARC contact: Caroline Allison, (919) 605-3045, AllisonCZ@usa.redcross.org