Annual Blood Battle begins with kickoff event at Ohio State

The Game is still a month away, but there’s an opportunity for supporters of The Ohio State University to help save lives and beat the Team Up North.

Next week, the 38th Annual Blood Battle begins at the Ohio Union with a kickoff blood drive on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The goal for the kickoff event, which will begin with Brutus Buckeye donating blood, is 100 donations. All blood donors receive a Blood Battle t-shirt and are entered to win two tickets to the rivalry game on Nov. 30 in Ann Arbor. The prize also includes an overnight stay.

Versiti Blood Center of Ohio, the blood provider to Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, will track daily Blood Battle progress at versiti.org/bloodbattle or @BloodCenterOh

“Versiti Blood Center of Ohio and the Buckeye Blood Club have scheduled multiple blood drives across campus throughout November. All you have to do is schedule an appointment, roll up your sleeves and lend an arm,” said President Michael V. Drake.

The event will also feature music, activities and opportunities to register to donate blood during the battle, which runs through Nov. 27. The goal this year is 2,000 total donations.

Donors can visit Versiti.org/bloodbattle for a complete list of blood drives and to schedule an appointment. Donors can also call 1-800-485-6594 for an appointment.

Elise Gramlich, president of the Buckeye Blood Club, encouraged fellow Buckeyes to join her in a campaign that has special meaning to her. Gramlich began donating blood in high school when her 4-year-old niece needed lifesaving blood transfusions for a rare brain condition. Her niece passed away at the age of 5.

“I would say it is not even an hour to potentially save a person’s life,” said Gramlich. “You will never know the impact you are having on an entire family. It can impact a person’s life forever.”

In 2018, more than 4,500 blood donations were collected between the two schools during the competition. Ohio State was the runner up by a narrow margin with its contribution of 2,176 donations.