Annual Ohio State Blood Battle comes amid blood shortages during pandemic

 

by Chris White

Monday, October 26th 2020

<p>FILE - 38th Annual Blood Battle between Ohio State and Michigan Nov. 2019. (WSYX/WTTE) {/p}

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — The 39th Annual Blood Battle comes as blood donations are in high demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin and former NFL-star Andy Katzenmoyer are helping to kick off the battle at The Schottenstein Center this Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“As one of the top hospitals in the nation, the Midwest’s largest cancer hospital and the area’s only academic medical center, we treat the most complex patients and perform the area’s most complicated treatments and procedures requiring blood and blood products,” said Dr. Scott Scrape, a pathologist and director of Transfusion Medicine at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “Right now, that supply is low due to the pandemic, and this push to restock blood supply will help so many people across the state.”

 

In 2019, more than 3,400 blood donations were collected between Ohio State and Michigan during the competition.

The Blood Battle runs through Nov. 25, with a goal of 1,500 total donations. Organizers sat there will be dozens of Blood Battle drives in and around the campus during the months of October and November.

More details can be found online here.