MTSU bleeds True Blue to recapture ‘100 Miles of Hope’ blood drive bragging rights

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— Middle Tennessee State University bled True Blue and beat Western Kentucky University during the annual MTSU-WKU “100 Miles of Hope” friendly blood drive competition.

MTSU collected 405 units during the three-day effort, 36 more than WKU, which collected 369 units. Together, the Conference USA schools collected 774 units of lifesaving blood. MTSU’s donations alone could potentially save 1,146 lives.

MTSU had nearly 500 donors attend the drive with 170 of them being first-time donors.

Held this year Sept. 9-11 in the Campus Recreation gymnasium, the “100 Miles of Hope” name derived from the distance between MTSU and WKU, since there is approximately 100 miles between the universities.

American Red Cross mascot Buddy Blood Drop, left, shakes hands with Lightning, Middle Tennessee State University’s mascot, to promote the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition between MTSU and Western Kentucky University at the tailgate in Walnut Grove before the MTSU-Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Zane Johnson)

Ray Wiley, MTSU Campus Rec assistant director — Ray Wiley

“On behalf of the blood drive committee, we just want to say thanks to all our students, faculty and staff for giving blood or volunteering at our annual three-day blood drive,” said Ray Wiley, blood drive committee chair and Campus Recreation associate director of facilities. “Your selfless act of service truly made a difference in the lives of others. Way to Go Blue Raiders!”

While participating on day one of the drive, MTSU social work freshman and donor Hayley Davis, of Sweetwater, Tenn., said she’s given blood in the past and donates because, “I feel like a lot of people can use it, and I have extra blood to give, so I figured I could go ahead and help out where I can.”

She also wanted to do her part to help MTSU win this year’s competition, doing just that as MTSU representatives took to the field at Floyd Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14, to accept the challenge trophy that is presented at the MTSU-WKU football game to the winning school.

Middle Tennessee State University’s Ray Wiley, blood drive committee chair and Campus Recreation associate director of facilities, holding the challenge trophy for the “100 Miles of Hope” MTSU-WKU blood drive competition. MTSU beat Western Kentucky University by collecting 405 units while WKU collected 369 units. The trophy was presented at the rivalry football game in Floyd Stadium at halftime on Saturday, Sept. 14, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Ray Wiley)

In 2023, MTSU collected 451 units, but was nipped by three units as WKU collected 454 units — the universities’ closest blood drive in history — causing MTSU to lose the challenge trophy after four consecutive wins.

MTSU has now regained the trophy and won the contest for a total of nine times, and WKU has won three times since 2010. There was no competition in 2013 when MTSU joined Conference USA nor in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Donors give blood during the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive on Monday, Sept. 9, the first day of the three-day drive, in the Middle Tennessee State University Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. MTSU beat WKU by collecting 405 units while WKU collected 369 units. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

6,956 units of blood have been collected at MTSU blood drives since 2010, which could potentially save 20,799 neighbors’ lives across Middle Tennessee. MTSU and WKU together have collected 12,881 units of blood since 2010, potentially saving approximately 38,000 lives.

Danny Leon, a 26-year-old from Hermitage, Tenn., is working on his second bachelor’s degree at MTSU in biology. He’s a past donor from a previous “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive during the time he was pursuing his first degree.

Also participating on the drive’s first day, Leon explained that he gives blood because, “I just think it would be really important that if I were in a situation where I needed blood, that there’d be blood available.”

Middle Tennessee State University mascot Lightning stands by Danny Leon, a 26-year-old biology major from Hermitage, Tenn, while Leon donates blood at the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition on Monday, Sept. 9, inside the MTSU Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Leon’s also past donor from a previous “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive from when he pursued his first bachelor’s. MTSU beat WKU by collecting 405 units while WKU collected 369 units. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)

For those who weren’t able to participate in this year’s drive but would like to donate, the American Red Cross is constantly in need of donations. Visit redcross.org for more information about donating.

— Maddy Williams (Maddy.Williams@mtsu.edu)

Dick Palmer, a play-by-play broadcaster for Middle Tennessee State University Athletics, giving blood at the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive on Monday, Sept. 9, the first day of the three-day drive, in the MTSU Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
Bella Young, Campus Recreation student worker at Middle Tennessee State University, receives a “100 Miles of Hope” free T-shirt from Meagan Dodd, MTSU student volunteer. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
Donors give blood during the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive on Monday, Sept. 9, the first day of the three-day drive, in the MTSU Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
Middle Tennessee State University student blood drive volunteers stand in front of the signage for the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition on Wednesday, Sept. 11, inside the Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Ray Wiley)
Middle Tennessee State University’s Ray Wiley, blood drive committee chair and Campus Recreation associate director of facilities, holding the challenge trophy for the “100 Miles of Hope” MTSU-WKU blood drive competition. (Photo submitted by Ray Wiley)
American Red Cross mascot Buddy Blood Drop poses with Michai Mosby, Middle Tennessee State University Student Government Association president, to promote the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition between MTSU and Western Kentucky University at the tailgate in Walnut Grove before the MTSU-Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Zane Johnson)
Middle Tennessee State University students pose with American Red Cross mascot Buddy Blood Drop to promote the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition between MTSU and Western Kentucky University at the tailgate in Walnut Grove before the MTSU-Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Zane Johnson)
Middle Tennessee State University mascot Lightning “gives blood” at the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition on Monday, Sept. 9, in the Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)
Lightning, Middle Tennessee State University’s mascot, poses with American Red Cross blood donations at the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)
Middle Tennessee State University student blood drive volunteers stand by the free T-shirt and snack incentive table for the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition on Wednesday, Sept. 11, the last day of the drive, in the MTSU Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Ray Wiley)
Organizers of the 2024 “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition gave out free T-shirts to promote the drive. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
Middle Tennessee State University faculty and American Red Cross staff pose with Lightning as he holds up the “100 Miles of Hope” MTSU-WKU blood drive competition incentive T-shirt on Monday, Sept. 9, the first day of the drive, in the Campus Recreation Center gymnasium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Pictured, from left, are Julie Byers, American Red Cross donor recruitment account manager; Diane Turnham, MTSU deputy athletic director and senior women’s administrator; Lightning, MTSU’s mascot; and Kristi Bradley, American Red Cross collections specialist. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)
Middle Tennessee State University’s Ray Wiley, Campus Recreation associate director of facilities and longtime Red Cross volunteer, poses with MTSU mascot Lightning in front of the signage for the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition in the Campus Recreation Center. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)
American Red Cross mascot Buddy Blood Drop, left, shakes hands with Lightning, Middle Tennessee State University’s mascot, to promote the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition between MTSU and Western Kentucky University at the tailgate in Walnut Grove before the MTSU-Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted by Zane Johnson)
Middle Tennessee State University mascot Lightning stands by Danny Leon, a 26-year-old biology major from Hermitage, Tenn, while Leon donates blood at the “100 Miles of Hope” blood drive competition Sept. 9 inside the MTSU Campus Recreation Center gymnasium. (MTSU photo by Maddy Williams)