Friendly Competition with Lifesaving Results

January is National Blood Donor Month. The start of the new year is one of the most challenging times to collect enough blood products, despite the constant demand. Companies from around the Capital Region came together to change that by teaming up with the American Red Cross for the 3rd annual Capital Region Blood Challenge during the first week of January. The challenge spotlighted the need for blood and encouraged donors to roll up their sleeves. Sponsoring companies included Albany Medical Center, CDPHP, FirstLight, National Grid, Lia Auto, MVP Health Care and Plug Power. Lia Auto was the reigning champion from last year’s competition.

The Challenge ran as a series of blood drives from January 2 through January 5 at the Red Cross Chapter in Albany. Participating companies sought to recruit the greatest number of donors. Each presenting donor had an opportunity to vote for their respective company as they checked in. An aggressive goal was set to collect 132 units of blood over the four days.

The goals of blood collection for the Challenge were no match for these companies dedicated to saving lives. In the end goals were crushed with 216 donors arriving to roll up their sleeves and 192 units were collected. While the competition was close, Albany Med claims the coveted trophy for 2024 and will be recognized at the 25th American Red Cross Fire and Ice Gala on April 12.

These companies’ efforts come at a critical time with the American Red Cross issuing an emergency blood shortage. The nation is currently facing the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Each day, the Red Cross needs to collect about 12,500 blood donations and nearly 3,000 platelet donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500 hospitals and other facilities across the country.

Together these companies made a huge impact amplifying the need for blood in a friendly but fierce competition with lifesaving results!

To learn more about donating blood or partnering with the Red Cross on blood drives visit redcrossblood.org.