10:07 a.m., Nov. 18, 2009----The University of Delaware looks to capture its fifth Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge title in the event's eight-year history as UD holds its annual blood drive from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m, Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Multipurpose Room of the Trabant University Center.

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The Blood Bank of Delmarva was on hand early in the morning to begin accepting donations of blood, with Blue Hens football coach K.C. Keeler and field hockey coach Carol Miller among the first to arrive and to give.

“I think this is a wonderful event by the CAA, and anytime you can help your community, it is a wonderful opportunity,” Miller said.

She encouraged members of the campus community to turn out to the Trabant University Center throughout the day “to save lives.”

People should make time to donate blood, Miller said, praising the efforts of the many volunteers who have committed themselves to the cause.

“Participating in the CAA Blood Challenge is something I've been doing since I got here,” Keeler said. “You've got to recognize that every day there are things going on around our world the result of which people need blood.”

Keeler added that too often people only think about donating blood when a family member is in need. “It has to be about more than you and your family,” he said. “There are other people going through things in life, and we need to step up and get involved.”

Keeler said leadership and community service are part of the UD athletics tradition, and that the CAA Blood Challenge is an important way to demonstrate those traits.

All students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are eligible and urged to take part by visiting the Trabant University Center any time throughout the day and into the evening.

UD sponsors of the challenge include the Resident Student Association, HOLA, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Food Science Club.

Free drinks are being provided by Coca-Cola and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, courtesy of UD Dining Services. Free T-shirts are being provided by the Blood Bank of Delmarva.

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.

The challenge got under way on Sept. 8 at the College of William and Mary and continued on Sept. 22 at Georgia State, Sept. 23 at Virginia Commonwealth, and Sept. 24 at UNC Wilmington.
The event will continue on Oct. 13 at Hofstra, Oct. 23 at James Madison, Oct. 29 at Drexel, Nov. 2 at George Mason and Northeastern, Nov. 9 at Towson, and Nov. 18 at Old Dominion and Delaware.

The Blue Hens won each of the first four CAA Blood Challenges beginning in 2002 before placing second during the last three events. In 2008, Delaware had 604 donors, trailing only Drexel's 816.

The 2008 event surpassed all previous records for the sixth consecutive year. Last fall, 3,472 actual donors participated in the event, and 3,632 productive units of blood were collected from the 12 CAA campuses. That total represents a 6.9 percent increase in the amount of blood collected from last year's challenge and more than three times the amount from the first campaign in 2002.

“The success of the CAA Blood Challenge is a source of pride for the conference and its member institutions,” said CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager. “To have collected over 17,000 units of blood during the past seven 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. I applaud the institutions for undertaking this life-saving project.”

Article by Adam Thomas