The fifth annual West Virginia University Mr. & Ms. Mountaineer Blood Drive is set for Thursday (Jan. 15). Hosted by the 2014 Mr. & Ms. Mountaineer winners, Ellis Roper and Liz Gulick, the blood drive will be held from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Gold Ballroom.
This year the American Red Cross is challenging college students to boost the blood supply this winter and help save lives through the We Challenge U Program. This friendly competition encourages students to get involved and give back to the community. Partners of the event include the American Red Cross, Mountaineer Week, Alpha Phi Omega, Golden Key and the Mountaineer Maniacs.
“Helping to lead this blood drive is important to me because it embodies all the principles of giving back to the community, which is what being Mr. Mountaineer stands for,” said Roper, a senior human resources management major.
Gulick, an elementary education graduate student echoed that belief.
“It was an honor to be named Ms. Mountaineer in November, but it will be an even greater privilege to host this event that will save lives. The blood drive allows both Ellis and I to use our platform to extend a hand to the community, and we cannot wait to see what WVU will do for the Red Cross.”
Mountaineer Week, the main coordinating sponsor of the blood drive, has an opportunity to win a $500 gift card, as part of the We Challenge U competition. The Red Cross Blood Services Division whose drive collects the highest percentage of their established blood collections goal will be awarded a gift card. Those who come to give will receive a Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Volunteers can sign up to donate blood or work at the drive during informational booths in the WVU Mountainlair from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, (Jan. 14). The blood drive is open to the public and walk-in appointments will be accepted, as time allows. For more information, contact Sonja Wilson at sonja.wilson@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-2702.
-WVU-
ta/1/8/15
Contact: Sonja Wilson, Mountainlair
Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-2702
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