On Thursday, May 2 a handful of faculty and students braved the rain and wind to give life-saving blood donations.
The Lions football team held a blood drive outside Strawberry Stadium from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Donations were being taken in the United Blood Service of Baton Rouge’s Blood Mobile. This event is held every year.
However, this event met its match as a rainstorm and a flooded parking area led to far less donations than expected.
This event, being held in the parking lot adjacent to the Dugas Center and Strawberry Stadium, was a daring commute, as students whose classes were not nearby had to fight the rain to get to a nearby Lion Traxx shuttle or walk to the bus.
This is the fourth year in which Southeastern’s football program has hosted this drive. Donors received friendly service, cholesterol testing and a UBS sports bag with their donation.
LaTory O’Conner, a UBS Blood Mobile worker, shared that the rain had truly hindered the efforts of the blood drive, as by 1:00 p.m. the bus had received less than ten donations.
“We looked at our history of blood drives, and we’ve gotten thirty one time, and twenty another,” said O’Conner, “When we brought out two buses we got around 50.  We come about every six months.”
Jeremy Williams, a sports management senior and defensive lineman, shared his enthusiasm with donating blood at this event.
“I came here to support the situation,” said Williams. “Basically the football team brought together a blood drive, and I’m a football player, so I decided to come out.”
Blood donations are needed to help individuals suffering from accidents, cancer patients, sick or premature children and individuals with heart problems.
One blood donation can help save the lives of three people. All blood types are needed.­­