For Immediate Release
CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DONATE BLOOD TO SAVE LIVES ONE PINT AT A TIME
By Christina Miller, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.—Trevor Ervin, a sophomore at Campbellsville University from Glasgow, Ky., began donating blood at the first blood drive at the university during his freshman year. He has been donating ever since at every opportunity he gets.
“You figure the average life span is 75 years and you can begin donating at age 17,” Ervin said. “Think about how many lives you can save!”
Ervin will have another opportunity to donate when Campbellsville University hosts a blood drive in the Student Activities Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10. The Student Activities Center is at 106 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky. The blood drive is open to the public.
The drive’s goal is 75 pints. Three more upcoming blood drives at CU are Nov. 19, 2009 and Jan. 21, 2010.
Donors are eligible to donate blood after 56 days and each donation can save three lives. This equals a total of 1,121 lives that could be saved by donating blood at every opportunity.
“My mom and dad always donated so I thought it was something I just had to do,” Ervin said. “I thought it was a duty. For me it still is, but I do it to save lives.”
Ervin has also grown his hair out long to donate to Locks of Love, and he has shaved his head to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, a fundraiser for children’s cancer research.
Another Campbellsville University student shaved her head off to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, and she donates blood whenever she can too.
Amanda Ford, a senior from Louisville, Ky., has donated blood around ten times in the four years since she’s been eligible to donate blood.
“When my younger brother, Casey, was 12 years old, he was in a bad car accident and needed blood,” said Ford. “Because someone donated blood it was available for him when he needed it.”
Julie Profitt, a senior from Bellevue, Ky., donates blood at CU. (Campbellsville University Photo by Andre Tomaz)
According to GiveLife.org, there is no substitute for blood; it can only come from donors.
Ford said she donates blood because it can help others who need it. “I have it to give, so why not?”
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, but only five percent of the eligible population donates blood in a given year, according to GiveLife.org.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in the south. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.