June 11, 1999

"There is a significant drop in collections because of donors going on vacation, so reinforcing our supply during this time of year is crucial."
                     – Richard Carson

Healthy competition was the name of the game for four MGH clubs vying to give the most blood donations to the MGH Blood Donor Center during May. The Missing Links Cycling Club and the MGH Bowling Club edged out the running and soccer clubs in the first round of competition.

The Missing Links led the pack with 36 percent of its 50 members donating blood while the Bowling Club came in with 19 percent of its 80 members. Members of the two winning teams now enter the second round, which ends Aug. 6. The final winning team will receive funding support for club activities.

The club competition is a part of the hospitalwide employee blood drive to help the MGH Blood Donor Center maintain a safe and adequate blood supply and minimize the purchase of blood from outside agencies.

According to Richard Carson, director of the MGH Blood Donor Center, the extra donations received from the MGH clubs could not have come at a better time. "There usually is a great need for blood components during the summer months — particularly around the Fourth of July holiday — because of summer recreation accidents," says Carson. "There also is a significant drop in collections because of donors going on vacation, so reinforcing our supply during this time of year is crucial."

Located on the first floor of the Gray/Jackson Building, the center is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, and Fridays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment, call 6-8177.

Joanne Carter, center, of the Blood Donor Center, with Sam Roberts of the MGH Missing Links Cycling Team Club, left, and Charles Cambria of the MGH Bowling Club.