Citadel taking on VMI in battle for blood

Tuesday’s blood drive is a competition between The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute. The winner gets a trophy and bragging rights for the next year.

The real winners though, will be the people who will receive the life saving gift from a total stranger.

The blood drive goes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Buyer Auditorium in Mark Clark Hall. The Citadel is inviting the public, along with Cadets, faculty, staff, and grad students to roll up their sleeves.

According to the news release the Red Cross and the Armed Services Blood Program are joining forces.  The Red Cross blood donations go to the local community and the Armed Services blood donations go to military personnel.

The Citadel is the largest donor of whole blood to the Charleston area chapter of the American Red Cross and is the largest donor of platelets in the South Carolina.  Last year The Citadel family donated 1,899 units of blood. 

“We are fortunate to have a lot of great blood drive sponsors in the Charleston area, but The Citadel has become our most supportive sponsor in the area,” said Patrick K. Lamontagne, blood donor recruitment supervisor with the American Red Cross. “It is always amazing to see the show of support from the cadets, faculty and staff on campus at every blood drive.”

In addition The Citadel is Ft Gordon’s top college donor in support of deployed military personnel.