WFU competing with NCAA schools in American Red Cross Points for Pints program

Between Oct. 1 and March 1, 2002, Points for Pints blood drives will be held at 19 NCAA schools. At the end of that period, during the NCAA basketball tournament, the school with the highest percentage of student, faculty and staff donors will be presented with a trophy.

The first Wake Forest blood drive that counts toward the Points for Pints competition will be held in Wingate Hall on Nov. 5 from 1 p.m. until 5:45 p.m.

Several Wake Forest student-athletes will volunteer to run the drives throughout the year, said senior Amber Rieg, a member of the university’s volleyball team. College athletes are usually not able to give blood because their vigorous training schedules do not allow for the recovery time that is necessary after a donation, she said.

“We still want to help in every way we can, because we all probably know someone who has needed blood at some time in their life due to some kind of surgery,” Rieg said. “Giving blood is an easy thing you can do every eight weeks to try to save a life.”

Laura Allen, director of blood services for the Red Cross Northwest North Carolina chapter, said she believes Wake Forest will be a strong competitor in Points for Pints. The university has a strong history of blood drive participation, she said.

Allen also said she hopes that the university community will continue to participate despite the rumor that the Red Cross already has enough blood because of the rush of donors after Sept. 11.

“Contrary to the rumors that are out there, we do not have too much blood,” Allen said. “Our blood supply within the last month has been very strong, but people must remember that blood is a perishable product. We need to restock our supply throughout the year.”

The Red Cross provides about 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply, Allen said. That blood is used by hospitals for patients who undergo any type of surgery, and for patients receiving medical treatment like chemotherapy.