On Monday, 412 donors rolled up their sleeves for the Kentucky side. Tennessee registered 402. In a five-day competition that has historically come down to the wire, the battle to collect the most blood is just getting started.
“We hope this is a sign of good things to come,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president for external relations at KBC. “We came into this week with a low blood supply, so today’s big showing is a great start, but we have a long way to go to strengthen our local supply and stock the shelves for the holiday. Let’s keep the positive momentum rolling into Tuesday.”
Stocking the shelves with a healthy supply for the Thanksgiving holiday is at the heart of the friendly rivalry. Donations historically dwindle next week because of the Thanksgiving closure and holiday-related travel. Big Blue Crush, started in 1988, was created to counter the expected losses and beyond with a proactive push from two passionate fan bases.
All KBC donor centers will be open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mobile drives open to the public will be available in Madison, Wayne and Mercer counties in addition to the five-day drive on campus at the University of Kentucky. To view available drives throughout the week or to schedule an appointment, donors can visit bit.ly/KBC_BigBlueCrush2025 or call 800.775.2522. Appointments are highly encouraged during Big Blue Crush. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
All donors will received a long-sleeve Big Blue Crush T-shirt as a thank you for participating this week.