NORRISTOWN — Area first responders will engage in a little friendly competition for a good cause at the Battle of the Badges blood drive next month.
Organized by the American Red Cross, the blood drive is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 4 at the Norristown Recreation Center, 340 Harding Blvd.
First launched in 2018, the Norristown police and fire departments team up against the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for the “Battle of the Badges” blood drive.
“(The) fire department looks forward to again beating the sheriff’s department, but the real winners are the people in the community who desperately need blood donations,” Norristown Fire Chief Thomas O’Donnell said.
It was the one of the first competitive drives to take place in greater Pennsylvania, according to Alana Mauger, regional communications manager with the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania.
People giving blood can participate by signing up in favor of either the local or county agencies as a way to encourage participation.
Mauger observed that participation has “tapered off a little bit in recent years,” and Mauger strived to “give it a little boost of energy and get people excited about it again.”
The municipal first responder agencies have historically won the battle. This year, the Norristown Fire Department has 30 firefighters, the Norristown Police Department has 64 sworn officers and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has 95 deputies, according to officials.
“The Norristown Police and Fire departments have enjoyed a six-year winning streak, which we do not expect to relinquish this year,” Norristown Police Cpt. Michael Bishop said in a statement, adding that “each pint of blood that is donated can save the lives of three people, and less than an hour of your time is asked to be part of this life saving annual event.”
“The Battle of the Badges is a fun way to encourage folks to donate blood and raise awareness about the need for blood donation at a critical time,” Sheriff Sean Kilkenny said. “The MCSO hasn’t taken home bragging rights yet, but we’re proud to partner with the Red Cross and Norristown fire and police for such a worthy cause.”
For more information, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter “Norristown BOB” to pre-register.
