Out for blood

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Molecular and cellular biology junior Yamen Fellah (right) prepared as Brande Doten drew his blood yesterday in the Senior Ballroom of the Memorial Student Union. The UA-ASU competition continues through Friday.

The University of Arizona has collected 505 pints since the competition began Monday, compared with Arizona State University's 487 pints, said Vikki Fernette, a donor recruiter for the American Red Cross.

"We're not out of the woods yet," Fernette said, but added "We have a really good chance of making it."

The UA has won the competition for the past two years in a row, Fernette said. The UA has won seven out of the total 11 competitions, she added.

"We got to get people to come out so we can keep up the tradition," American Red Cross nurse Sandi Frank said yesterday.

The American Red Cross hopes to collect more than 1,400 pints by the end of the competition Friday, she said.

Last year, about 1,203 pints were collected by the UA, compared with ASU's 1,014 pints, Fernette said.

It takes about 280 pints of blood per day to satisfy Tucson hospitals' needs, she said. Blood collected at the UA will be used at 27 Tucson hospitals and clinics.

All of Red Cross' Southern Arizona's resources and staff are being used at the UA's 22 donating sites, she said.

"The UA always comes through in a crisis," Fernette said. "We're not worried."

Bone marrow testing will also be done Thursday and Friday in the Memorial Student Union Senior Ballroom, said Suzanne Powell, coordinator of bone marrow registry.

The 20-minute process puts individuals on a list of potential bone marrow donors. A future match with someone in need of bone marrow could help save the lives of those with leukemia and other diseases, Powell said.

"It is a pretty small thing to ask," she said.

Minorities are being targeted to donate because bone marrow recipients have to be matched with donors of the same ethnic background, she said.

UA employee Toby Denny said he has donated more than 24 gallons of blood since he was 17 years old.

Yesterday, at age 40, he donated another pint, Denny said.

"It helps the community, the state of Arizona and it is another way to beat ASU," he said.

Denny said the competition with ASU is a good way to motivate donors.

"It makes it even more enjoyable," he said. "I would donate anyway, but it is a nice little side-effect."

Microbiology sophomore Molly Sullivan agreed that the rivalry motivates some students to donate.

"That is what motivated me at first, but then I realized I should give blood more regularly," Sullivan said. "I know it is helping others and it is a good thing to do."

Psychology freshman Liv Aannestad said she donated for the first time yesterday.

"I think it is important because it can help save people's lives and it is not an inconvenience to me," said Aannestad, who wants to donate again next year.

Blood can be donated at various locations around campus, including the Senior Ballroom, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Friday.

Rachael Myer can be reached via e-mail at Rachael.Myer@wildcat.arizona.edu.