BEAVERCREEK — A showdown in Beavercreek resulted in the firefighters beating the police officers with 52 donations to 33 blood donations in the Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on Aug. 28 at Peace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. A total of 88 donations were taken.
The Beavercreek Police reversed back-to-back losses to the Beavercreek Township Fire Department last year with a 61-57 upset.
Community support for the Battle of the Badges has grown each year. Last year’s tight competition resulted in the strongest showing with 126 total donors and 99 blood donations. The three-year total is now 341 registrations to donate, including 44 first-time donors and 274 blood donations.
The Beavercreek Battle of the Badges Blood Drive was revived in 2014 with the help of Pat Cochran and her fellow Beavercreek Township Fire Department Auxiliary volunteers. They joined forces with of the established Peace Lutheran Church blood drive, coordinated by Dan Jessup.
An anonymous donor added a simple message to her ballot. She voted for the firefighters and wrote, “Thank you BFD for saving my son’s life.”
“There were tears involved when we saw this,” said Pat Cochran.
She said it was also gratifying to hear donors talk about their blood donations to Community Blood Center being sent to Texas to help with the Hurricane Harvey relief effort.
“I do this every year,” said Beavercreek donor Deniece Chin. “Last year I voted for the fire department, so this year I’ll voter for the police. I’m just a happy resident of Beavercreek, so happy they have this.”
“I think about the people (flood victims) in Houston, they’re going to need blood,” said donor Teresa Zubeck. “It’s so easy to do, it doesn’t hurt. We have a great fire department and police department. If I could I’d vote for two of them.”
Chief Vandenbos’ wife Toni is an auxiliary member and also donated Monday. She joined the volunteers in serving chili made by Beavercreek Township Chili Contest winner Jan Shultz to the donors. Donor Sue Kirby sat beside police and fire supporters at the Donor Café and said, “It’s hard to decide, I’ve got one on either side!”
Everyone who registered to donate received the Community Blood Center “Ride with Passion, Give with Heart” T-shirt, and was automatically entered in the “Scouting for Donors Summer Blood Drive” drawing to win an Indian Scout 60 motorcycle. Donors must be 18 by the Sept. 2 end of the campaign to win.
To donate blood to the Community Blood Center visit www.DonorTime.com or call 800-388-GIVE.
