Rotary Club’s fourth annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive to kick off on June 4
The Breckenridge Rotary Club’s fourth annual “Battle of the Badges” blood drive will start in two weeks, continuing the friendly competition between the Breckenridge Fire Department, the Breckenridge Police Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
The 2020 Breckenridge Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will be Thursday, June 4, through Saturday, June 6. The Rotary Club is once again teaming up with Carter BloodCare for the project, which will allow blood donors to vote for one of three local first-responder groups — the Breckenridge Fire Department, the Breckenridge Police Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office — when they give blood.
During the three-day event, blood donors will drop their vote in the ballot box, choosing whether their donation honors the firefighters, police officers or sheriff’s deputies. At the end of the drive, the team with the most votes wins.
Each year, to honor the winning agency, Carter BloodCare presents a plaque to the winning department in recognition for bringing the community together in the spirit of saving lives. For the past three years, the Breckenridge Fire Department has won the competition.
Last year, the community donated 54 units of blood during the campaign. That was 11 more units than were collected in 2018. Each unit of blood can help three people, said Colleen Horan, a consultant with Carter BloodCare.
There will be three days designated for the Battle of the Badges Blood Drives. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, click the link beside each location:
- Thursday, June 4
Noon to 5 p.m.
First National Bank of Breckenridge — Click to register: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/110152 - Friday, June 5
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Stephens Memorial Hospital/Breckenridge Medical Center — Click to register: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/110153 - Saturday, June 6
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
First National Bank Breckenridge — Click to register: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/110154
According to the Carter BloodCare website, when the schools, churches and businesses across Texas were forced to close due to COVID-19, most of community blood drives were canceled, threatening the adequacy of the blood supply.
To protect blood donors, Carter BloodCare is following national guidelines from the industry, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They regularly clean the donor areas, refreshment areas, doorknobs, and waiting area. Additionally, they have hand sanitizer readily available, and the staff will wear masks during the donation process. This and more information is available on the Carter BloodCare website: www.carterbloodcare.org.
For more information about the Breckenridge Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, call Les or Sherry Strickland with the Rotary Club at 254-522-1959.
Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Cutline, top photo: Cater BloodCare consultant Colleen Horan, second from right, is pictured with Breckenridge Police Chief Bacel Cantrell, Breckenridge Fire Chief Calvin Chaney and Stephens County Sheriff Will Holt at Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting. The three organizations will be vying for the most blood donations in the fourth annual Breckenridge Battle of the Badges Blood Drive set for the first weekend in June. (Photo courtesy of Bo Asher)
