Media Center

Blood donor scores trip to OSU-Michigan game!

November 18, 2008

Red Cross donor recruitment representative Jodie Kerchansky, right, with OSU game tickets winner Gary Pendergrass and his son Chase.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Champaign County resident was able to watch the Buckeyes take on the Wolverines at Ohio Stadium for the OSU vs. Michigan game on Nov. 22.

Gary Pendergrass was the winner of a drawing for a pair of tickets to the Ohio State-Michigan game. The drawing was open to all who came to donate at Central Ohio Blood Services Region blood drives from Oct. 1 to Nov. 16. For several years, the local Red Cross has offered up a pair of the tickets as an incentive to its blood donors.

The St. Paris resident, who has donated more than six gallons, made the winning donation at a drive held at the First Presbyterian Church in Urbana. A hospital stay in his past showed Pendergrass the great need for blood donors, and he decided to make a commitment to giving regularly.

Pendergrass said he’s thankful his employer, Champaign County Engineers, provides staff the opportunity to donate blood during the work day.

“Organizations that support the blood program in this way provide a service of immeasurable value to their communities,” said Nicole Baird, a spokesperson for the local Blood Services Region of the Red Cross.

While OSU won the game, Michigan took the Blood Battle trophy, with a final Blood Battle score of 2,281 for Michigan and 2,056 for OSU.

Together, the two schools collected more than 4,000 blood donations to help patients at hospitals in need of blood.

About Blood Battle

Partnering with the American Red Cross Blood Services, the two rival schools launched this annual friendly competition 27 years ago. Students and fans get to show their school spirit while boosting the supply of lifesaving blood products for patients by donating with the Red Cross. Locally, the campaign is supported by WBNS 10TV, Mix 97.1 FM, and 1460 AM The Fan.

11/08AP975

Media contacts

Central Ohio
Blood Services

(614) 253-2740
1-800-338-8086

Rodney J. Wilson
Communications Manager
extension 2347
e-mail

Heather Reichle
Communications Specialist
extension 2275
e-mail

Other Red Cross
lines of service
You can find your local
Red Cross chapter by
searching on redcross.org
or by checking the white
pages of your local phone
directory.

National
media inquiries
Click here for listings