11/9/04

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michele Hyndman at (650) 723-7831 or (650) 799-9885, ( )

CAL AND STANFORD FANS ARE CHALLENGED TO BLEED FOR THEIR TEAMS IN 'HEMO BOWL' DURING BIG GAME WEEK

OAKLAND AND STANFORD, Calif. – For more than 100 years, the Cal Bears and Stanford Cardinal have battled for "the Axe" in the Big Game. This year, students and alumni from both campuses are out for blood.

To help boost area blood supplies and to give football fans a unique way to show their team spirit, the American Red Cross and Stanford Blood Center have joined together to host a "Hemo Bowl" between Cal and Stanford alumni and fans.

This first-time event for alumni and fans will help alleviate the blood shortage and show just how many fans "bleed for their team" the week of the teams' game against each other. From Monday, November 15 through Saturday, November 20, Cal and Stanford alumni and fans are encouraged to roll up their sleeves at blood centers throughout the Bay Area and at mobile blood drives. Fans can "dedicate" their blood donation to their favorite team.

"We hope this friendly competition is a touchdown for the Stanford Blood Center and the American Red Cross because in the end it's the patients that win when people take the time to donate blood," said Michele Hyndman, spokesperson for the Stanford Blood Center.

The idea follows the original Hemo Bowl held by Cal and Stanford students in previous years for a Big Game week competitive blood drive on campus. Cal's theme for the drive is "Get the Red Out" – part of the week's overall theme where students also exchange red shirts, that being Stanford's color, for blue ones. The students will continue the tradition with campus blood drives during Big Game week. Stanford students respond with "Red is the color of life." Students giving blood on both campuses last year said that challenging a longtime rival was a rewarding perk to saving lives.

"This is a great opportunity for Cal and Stanford fans to do something good for the Bay Area while having some fun in a competition," said Sara O'Brien, American Red Cross spokesperson. "While every pint of blood will count for one school or the other, ultimately it will help treat patients in need."

American Red Cross Blood Centers are located in Newark, Oakland, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton and San Jose. Stanford Blood Centers are found in Mountain View and Palo Alto. Alumni and fans can "dedicate" their blood donation to their favorite team at any center or mobile blood drive.

To make an appointment or find mobile drive locations, contact:

American Red Cross
1-800-GIVE-LIFE
www.BeADonor.com

Stanford Blood Center
1-888-723-7831
http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu

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Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions – Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.