TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 31, 2008): This August, Rotary Clubs in three Northwest Michigan counties will engage in the third annual Rotary Blood Challenge, a friendly competition to see which club can recruit the most members, family, and friends to donate blood. This unique contest is aimed at reducing the risk of blood shortages at a high-need time.

Participating clubs this year include Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Traverse City, Traverse Bay Twilight Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Elk Rapids and, Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club. Last year, Traverse Bay Twilight Rotary Club emerged the victor by recruiting 62 percent of its total membership.

The public is invited to participate by donating blood any time in August, at any Michigan Community Blood Centers mobile blood drive, or at any permanent Blood Center donation location. Each donor can designate his or her donation to be counted toward the contest totals for the Rotary Club of their choice. Any healthy person 17 or older who weighs 110 pounds or more may be eligible to give blood every 56 days. A complete schedule of blood drives and donation centers is available at www.miblood.org; or call toll-free 1-866-MIBLOOD (press 6) for more information.

The winner of the Rotary Blood Challenge will be determined by the total number of donors recruited by each club, figured as a percentage of its membership. The club that achieves the highest percentage of participation in the Challenge will be honored at a ceremony in September and will be permanently recognized with the inscription of their name on a plaque residing at Michigan Community Blood Centers main donor center on Aero Park Dr. in Traverse City.

“During August, blood banks all across the country usually see a seasonal slump in blood donations,” said Peter Wandoff, Michigan Community Blood Centers recruiter, who is coordinating the Rotary Blood Challenge. “Last year, the participating Rotary Clubs combined recruited 18 percent of their membership. Considering that only 5 percent of those eligible to give blood actually do, that’s a great result. We hope to have an even better turnout this year. It’s a lifesaving project for Rotary on behalf of – and together with – the community, and it’s a great fit with Rotary’s commitment to ‘Service Above Self’.”

A nonprofit blood bank that provides blood for hospitals in four regions of the state, Michigan Community Blood Centers in Northwest Michigan collects blood in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee and Osceola Counties. The entire blood supply for hospitals in those counties (including all Munson Health System facilities, West Shore Medical Center in Manistee, and Spectrum Health – Reed City Hospital) is provided by Michigan Community Blood Centers. After all local hospitals’ needs have been met, Michigan Community Blood Centers shares any available blood with other communities across the state and nation, and also responds to disaster-related and military needs for blood.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers