September 26, 2003

With a little help from our friends: MGHers succeed in blood donor challenge

The numbers are tallied, and the results are in. After a competitive three-week challenge, winners have emerged. The annual blood donor challenge between the "Boston Red Cells" - MGH, MEEI and Spaulding - and the "Green Monsters" - BWH and Dana-Farber - concluded Sept. 12, with patients at all of the hospitals being declared as the true winners.

The results of the challenge were close, with one team winning by a small margin. If compared to a political race, the Boston Red Cells won the "popular vote" with 343 donations, versus the Green Monsters with 305 donations. The Green Monsters won the "electoral vote" with 3 percent of all full-time, day-time employees donating, and the Red Cells came in a close second with 2.6 percent of all full-time, day-time employees donating.

"The real winners of this annual challenge are the patients who receive the blood donations during this time of year when blood supply levels drop dangerously low," says Kate Grealy of the MGH Blood Donor Center.