Sept. 29, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA - George Mason University's Intercollegiate Athletic Department, along with GMU's student senate, will take part in the the second annual Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Sub II Ballroom from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The blood drive is open to Mason's student population, as well as the public and appointments may be made in advance, while walk-ups are also welcome.

For this competition, each CAA institution will designate one day during the months of September, October or November to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. With the assistance of local blood service centers, a count will be kept of all people who show up to donate blood on that day and based on those numbers, the CAA will determine a winner and present a framed award to that institution.

The University of Delaware was the winner of the CAA Blood Challenge in 2002, with 374 attempted donors and 262 units of blood collected, which was the largest single-day blood drive in the history of the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore. More than half of the league's 10 institutions had over 100 donors participate in the program. All together, last year's event resulted in nearly 1,500 attempted donors and 1,165 productive units of blood collected from the 10 CAA campuses.

The CAA Blood Challenge was developed by the league presidents as a fun way to emphasize the critical importance of donating blood. Each institution promotes the event on campus and encourages student groups, faculty, staff and alumni to participate and support their school.

"While this is a unique competition, there is no more important outcome than enhancing our communities' blood supplies," said CAA commissioner Tom Yeager. "I applaud the institutions for undertaking this life-saving project."

For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood, please contact Nena Rogers at (703) 993-3594. Juice and cookies will be provided, along with a free t-shirt.