Thursday, December 13, 2012

Kansas firefighters, law enforcement officers and their supporters are rolling up their sleeves for a friendly competition known as the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive.

More than 100 hospitals in Kansas and Oklahoma will benefit from blood donated during the drive, running from Thursday through New Year's Day.

Terri Dunaway is chief executive officer of the Midway Kansas chapter of the American Red Cross. Dunaway says blood donations typically decline in December because students are home from school, many businesses operate only skeleton crews and families are busy with holiday celebrations.

Anyone older than 16 may donate at the Wichita Blood Donor Center. Donors get a free T-shirt and can then vote for either firefighters or law enforcement.