4:35 p.m., Oct. 6, 2008----The University of Delaware will look to capture its fifth Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge title in the event's seven-year history when the school holds its annual blood drive on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Multipurpose Room of the Trabant University Center.

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To sign up, contact the Blood Bank of Delmarva at (302) 737-8400. All students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are eligible and urged to take part.

The CAA Blood Challenge was developed by the conference presidents as a fun way to emphasize the critical importance of donating blood. Each CAA institution works with its local blood service center and designates one day during the fall semester to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. Student groups, faculty, staff and alumni are all encouraged to participate.

The challenge got under way on Sept. 16 at the College of William and Mary and continued on Sept. 18 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Sept. 23 at Georgia State and Sept. 24 at Virginia Commonwealth. It continues on Oct. 6 at Towson University, Oct. 15 at George Mason University, Oct. 21 at Hofstra University, Oct. 23 at Northeastern University, Oct. 29 at James Madison University, Oct. 30 at Drexel University, Nov. 6 at Old Dominion University and Nov.12 at UD.

The Blue Hens won each of the first four challenges beginning in 2002 before finishing second during the last two events. In 2007, Delaware had 678 donors, trailing only Drexel's 942.

The 2007 event surpassed all previous records for the fifth consecutive year. Last fall, 3,425 actual donors participated and 3,399 productive units of blood were collected from the 12 CAA campuses. That total represents a 3.4 percent increase in the amount of blood collected from last year's challenge and three times the amount from the first campaign in 2002.

“The success of the CAA Blood Challenge has become a source of pride for the conference and its member institutions,” said CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager. “To have collected over 14,000 units of blood during the past six years is an incredible accomplishment. The event grows each year, and we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and participation on each of our campuses. Our ability to enhance each community's blood supply is incredibly important, and I applaud the institutions for undertaking this life-saving project.”