Sigma Chi’s Derby Days philanthropy event won an award for overall blood drive of the year for 2015 through Mississippi Blood Services.
According to Jennifer Hudson of the Mississippi Blood Services branch in Oxford, the five-day event last March garnered 1,260 units of blood —the largest blood drive in Mississippi’s history.
Sophomore psychology and sociology major Mikayla Skinner gave blood at the 2015 Derby Days.
“There were so many people there, so it was pretty exciting sitting there seeing everyone donate,” Skinner said. “We probably saved thousands of lives that week.”
According to Hudson, the Derby Days blood drive alone saved 3,780 lives.
Mississippi Blood Services first became involved with Derby Days in 2009 when a Sigma Chi alumnus and member of Mississippi Blood Services’ North Mississippi Advisory Council, Taylor Boone, established the relationship. It has since become an annual partnership.
“Mississippi Blood Services holds hundreds of blood drives all over the state and sees thousands of donors during the year,” Susan Ates, public relations specialist at Mississippi Blood Services, said. “We depend on every individual who donates and every organization that allows us to set up a blood drive. But throughout the year, there are those who go that extra mile, who work to increase the units collected, strive to reach others on our behalf and work to ensure their communities have the blood that is needed on a day-to-day and patient-to-patient basis.”
Mississippi Blood Services, the only FDA-licensed blood center based in Mississippi, was founded in 1979. The Oxford branch is one of three Mississippi Blood Services locations. According to Hudson, Mississippi colleges play a major role in the state’s blood supply. Mississippi Blood Services is the chief supplier of blood for UMMC, the state’s only trauma hospital.
“Students are often willing to roll up their sleeves to save lives,” Hudson said. “When there is an event such as Derby Days that students are participating in, then their donations can far exceed just your general public or community blood drives.”
Hudson said timing plays a major role in blood donations. Because Mississippi Blood Services relies heavily on college donors, summers and other vacation times when students are not in town create significant drops in donations.
However, various clubs and events on campus have sponsored Mississippi Blood Services to help ensure they get the donations that they need.
The UM athletics department, the law school and many Greek organizations promote giving blood throughout the school year.
MBS is very low on platelet donations as well as B+, B-, O+ and O- blood types, according to their website.
