Local Blood Challenge goes Global

Posted 
on May 05, 2010
 
FORT WORTH, Texas (May 6, 2010) – A friendly competition that began between Rotary clubs in North Central Texas crosses a major milestone this week: 
 
100,000 units of donated blood. The competition began in Fort Worth and grew to include all of North Central Texas.
  • The total units collected as of March 31 was 99,079.

64,227 (Rotary District 5790 - blood drive began in 1996) and

          34,852 (Rotary District 5810 - Dallas and east;

          joined blood drive in 2003)

 

  • At the rate of approximately 29 units per day, 100,000 units will occur May 6

 

  • To visualize, 100,000 units is more than if every fan in a standing-room-only Cowboys Stadium donated blood

 

  • 1 unit of blood is typically separated into three components that could potentially help three people.

 

  • The friendly competition has inspired an official organization, Global Network for Blood Donation. It now has more than 950 members in over 70 countries. (www.ourblooddrive.org)

 

  • Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. The two districts in North Central Texas represent more than 6,000 Rotarians. "Rotarian" refers to members of Rotary clubs.

 

  • Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

 

TIMELINE
1996 - Challenge begins with Rotary Club of Fort Worth South

2001 - Johannesburg, South Africa joins the challenge

2003 - Dallas Rotary District (5810) joins challenge

2009 - Houston District (District 5890), South Oklahoma District (District 5770) and the North East Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas District (District 5830) joins challenge

2010 - All Rotary Clubs in Texas, New Mexico and the southern part of Oklahoma have joined the Challenge