HHP blood challenge exceeds expectations

A challenge between East Carolina University students in two College of Health and Human Performance courses led to the collection of 333 units of blood Feb. 18 and 19 at Mendenhall Student Center.

The HLTH 1000 and EXSS1000 Blood Challenge, which encouraged students in those classes to complete through blood donations, exceeded its goal of 300 units. This year’s winning department was the Department of Kinesiology, which reached 11.7 percent with 198 donors from a possible 1,686 students enrolled in EXSS1000. The Department of Health Education and Promotion came in a close second with 11.5 percent, drawing 273 donors from a possible 2,375 HLTH 1000 students.

The event was coordinated by Debra Tavasso and Brian Cavanaugh in Health Education and Promotion, along with Grace Anne Vick in the Department of Kinesiology. Graduate teaching assistants who teach the two courses served as volunteers for the challenge.

Each unit of blood collected has the potential to save three lives.