ROCHESTER, Minn. — First responders choose their careers for many reasons: to work with the public, create safe communities for everyone to enjoy, and save lives. Help the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program congratulate the winning team — Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service — in the Second Annual Battle of the Badges blood donation challenge. This challenge supported Olmsted County's first responders.

WHO
Participants included representatives of Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service; Olmsted County fire departments in Byron, Rochester and Stewartville, Minnesota; Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. Also, anyone from the community who is 16 or older and wished to donate blood on behalf of one of these organizations could participate.

WHAT
The Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service won the Second Annual blood donation challenge. A traveling trophy will be presented and a group photo will be taken.

WHERE
Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service
501 Sixth Avenue NW
Rochester, MN  55901

WHEN
Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. CDT

BACKGROUND
There is no substitute for the lifesaving gift of blood, and patients rely upon the caring spirit of blood donors. The goal of this fun and friendly challenge, which was hosted by the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program, is to save lives through blood donation, and build community relationships and awareness about donating blood and blood products. The Battle of the Badges blood donation challenge ran from June 1 through Aug. 30. Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service won with 220 blood donations. Collectively, Olmsted County first responders provided 536 blood donations over the past three months.

"Blood cannot be created in a laboratory. It is truly a gift of life," says Justin Kreuter, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program. "Our first responders are saving lives every day, and we're hoping this Battle of the Badges can be a way to honor what they do — and also encourage others to consider blood donation."

"While Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service is really excited to take home the bragging rights on this one, we know that the real winners are the patients who will be receiving this blood product," says Kathryn Arms, assistant supervisor of operations, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service. "We are extremely thankful to have such a great working relationship with both law enforcement and our fire departments. But these challenges really bring out our competitive side and give us the chance to interact on a different level. In the end, losing the battle last year was tough, but taking the trophy from the Rochester Fire Department makes the victory all that much sweeter this time around."

To learn more about the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program's Battle of the Badges blood donation challenge, visit the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program website.

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About the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program
The Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program was established in Rochester in 1935. Back then, donors were called in as needed and donated directly to a patient in the next room. Today, one person's donation may save multiple lives. The Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program relies on continuous and repeat healthy donors to have a steady blood supply for patients in need. The program recruits within Olmsted County, Minnesota, and joins forces with the American Red Cross to meet Mayo Clinic patients' blood needs.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and An Inside Look at Mayo Clinic for more information about Mayo.

Media contact
To schedule an interview with Dr. Kreuter or one of the Battle of the Badges first responder ambassadors, contact:
Suzanne Ferguson
Mayo Clinic Public Affairs
507-284-5005
newsbureau@mayo.edu

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