Company H Wins April Blood Drive Challenge

Judy Granger, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative for Rockbridge and surrounding counties, speaks with cadets from Company H May 14 before the drawing of names for gift cards. – VMI Photo by John Robertson IV.

LEXINGTON, Va., May 24, 2012 – VMI’s latest blood drive, held in April, was a success, with 189 pints of blood donated. Company H was the winner of the company blood challenge, and contributing members of the company were entered in a drawing for one of five $25 gift cards.

One of four blood drives this year, the April donations brought the total donations for the academic year up to 1,238 pints of blood. This represents the largest blood drive that the Red Cross conducts in Virginia.

Cadets winning the gift cards were Parker Searing ’15, Patrick Minnick ’14, Charles Gough ’15, Tyler Brickles ’15, and Edwin Nice ’15.

The blood drive took place April 10-12 and again made use of extended hours, from 11:45 a.m. to 8 p.m., in order to accommodate as many cadets as possible. Cadets also had the opportunity of setting up donation appointments online, further facilitating the process.

The Red Cross estimates that each pint of blood donated has the potential to save three lives. VMI’s donations this year represent the potential to save 3,714 lives.

–John Robertson IV