Breckenridge Texan

The fourth annual “Battle of the Badges” blood drive, hosted by the Breckenridge Rotary Club, kicked off Thursday and continues through Saturday, June 6. The event continues the friendly competition between the Breckenridge Fire Department, the Breckenridge Police Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, while raising blood for Carter BloodCare.

Blood donors have a chance to vote for one of the three local first-responder groups when they give blood. During the 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.

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.

The blood drive continues through 3 p.m. today, Friday, June 5, and then again on Saturday.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, click the link beside each location:

• 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: On Friday morning, June 5, Breckenridge Police Officer Justin Rose donates blood, assisted by Cole Captain, the mobile supervisor for Carter BloodCare Services. The Battle of the Badges blood drive will continue through 2 p.m. Saturday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)