MEDIC Regional Blood Center needs Lady Vols fans to support their team and the East Tennessee community by "bleeding orange."

The eighth annual Bleed Orange Blood Drive competition runs Monday, Feb. 11 – Friday, Feb. 15. The Lady Vols and Vanderbilt University's Lady Commodores will compete to see which team can bring in the most blood donations. The winner will be announced at the Tennessee/Vanderbilt game on Sunday, Feb. 17.

The competition comes at a vital time. MEDIC is experiencing a severe blood shortage and needs donations of all blood types. Christi Fightmaster, public relations coordinator for Medic, said the organization is the only supplier of blood and blood products for 29 hospitals in the East Tennessee area, making the shortage a serious matter.

"We have less than 100 pints of O+ in our inventory and that's the most common blood type," Fightmaster said. "We need about 500 pints."

Partnering with college sports teams is "extremely successful" in drawing in donations, according to Fightmaster. Drives such as Bleed Orange provide people with a way to help the community and support their favorite team. "It gives a lot of people a reason to donate," she said.

Fightmaster encouraged those who can to donate bloodUltimately, what you're doing when you give blood is saving a life."Christi Fightmaster, public relations coordinator for MEDIC. "Ultimately, what you're doing when you give blood is saving a life," she said.

Donors in the Bleed Orange competition will receive a limited edition "Bleed Orange" Lady Vols T-shirt, a coupon for Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis and Medic's family blood coverage. More information on donor eligibility or the blood coverage program is available at the MEDIC web site.

MEDIC will have mobile blood donation units in different locations across the University of Tennessee campus Tuesday – Thursday. Donations can also be given at MEDIC's office on 1601 Ailor Ave., near downtown Knoxville and the UT campus. "Our donor center is convenient and there is rarely a wait," Fightmaster said. The office is open 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Dates, times, and locations for the UT campus donation units are as follows.

Tuesday, Feb. 12:

• North Carrick Hall, noon – 8 p.m., in the lobby
• UT Institute of Agriculture, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in Room 166
• University Center, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., in Rooms 225–227

Wednesday, Feb. 13:

• Andy Holt Apartments, noon – 8 p.m., blood mobile
• Clement Hall, noon – 8 p.m., blood mobile
• Hess Hall, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., in the lobby

Thursday, Feb. 14:

• University Center, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., in Rooms 225–227