Battle of the Badges: Firefighters, police, EMS battle for bragging rights in blood drive competition
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on August 30, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Andrew Elliot casts his vote for the Mount Olive Police Department before donating blood. Law enforcement and firefighters donated blood and campaigned for votes to win money, a traveling trophy and $200 for their department during the Battle of the Badges American Red Cross blood drive Tuesday at the American Legion in Mount Olive.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Faison Fire Chief Lee Kennedy donates blood during the Battle of the Badges American Red Cross blood drive at the American Legion in Mount Olive. Each pint of blood donated was one vote for the law or fire department of the donor's choice. Kennedy spent his wait time campaigning for the firefighters.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive Fire Chief Gregg Wiggins was sure his firefighters would win the Battle of the Badges blood drive competition because "our blood must be better than law enforcement's," he said with a laugh.
But Mount Olive Chief of Police Tommy Brown was pulling hard for the policemen so he could have bragging rights for the next year.
"If we win this year, we're going to definitely talk some junk to the firemen, but it will be nice," he said.
The first-ever Battle of the Badges blood drive was held Tuesday at the American Legion building. Firefighters, policemen and EMS personnel were encouraged to give at the blood drive and also encourage their family and friends to give for their particular group.
Bragging rights, a traveling trophy and a $200 cash prize went to the Faison Fire Department, which collected 12 units of blood.
Sponsoring the drive was Southern Bank and Trust Co., which holds six drives a year.
"The Red Cross asked us to do this drive," said Genetta Goodman with Southern Bank, who puts together the bank's blood drives. "They wanted to do something that could possibly increase our units that we collect. I thought it was a good idea because they're a pretty competitive bunch anyway."
Southern Bank President Drew Covert said the bank sponsors blood drives because there is a great need for blood.
"We're very proud of what the Red Cross does," he said. "For a community this size, this is good. The Red Cross' book is completely filled, and there are a lot of walk-ins."
Goodman and her blood drive team at the bank invited 14 different fire, police and EMS departments to participate.
"We started with Mount Olive because I wanted them on board first," Goodman said. "We also invited departments from southern Wayne and northern Duplin counties."
To make the competition a little more interesting, Goodman told them there would probably be donors who had not decided on which department to make their donation for and encouraged firefighters, policemen and EMS personnel to come to the blood drive and do a little campaigning for their group.
That's exactly what Faison Fire and Rescue Chief Lee Kennedy did. Not only did he donate blood, but he also encouraged other donors to give for his department.
"It's a competition thing between the departments," he said, "but it's all about the blood for the Red Cross. It doesn't matter what department gets the most blood, just as long as we get a lot of people here to the drive."
Kennedy made a donation himself because he wanted to give something back to somebody who might need it. This was only his second time of giving blood.
John McClenny with Smith Chapel Volunteer Fire Department said he sees a lot of need for blood in his profession and that's why he wanted to participate in the blood drive.
"This is the first time I've given blood in many years," he said. "The Battle of the Badges competition is what got me here today. I think it's a good challenge and a good competition for a good cause."
He said during the drive that he thought the firefighters would win because "everybody loves firemen. But there are a lot of fine cops in our area."
Miranda Harrison, account manager for the Red Cross, said Battle of the Badges was held to encourage new donor participation.
"We felt like our emergency responders would be a great way of spreading the word because they understand about the need," she said. "That's a group of professionals that know there is a constant need for blood. Just to make it more fun, we decided to have a Battle of the Badges."
She hopes Battle of the Badges will become an annual event.
Wiggins was at the drive to get donors to give blood for firefighters.
"It's a good competition between law enforcement and the fire department," he said. "I've been announcing Battle of the Badges at the association meeting the last two months."
He said his department could absolutely use the $200 award and that bragging rights would be an added bonus.
"It will be tough to live in Mount Olive if we don't win," Wiggins said during the drive. "But it's just a good friendly competition among brothers and sisters in law enforcement and fire."
Brown said the Battle of the Badges brought all the first responders -- fire, EMS, police -- together to contributed for a good cause.
He said if the policemen failed to win this year, he would rally the troops and be ready for next year.
A breakdown of units collected is Mount Olive Police Department, 11; Wayne County EMS, two; Mount Olive Fire Department, nine; Oak Wolfe Fire Department, five; Faison Fire Department, 12; Dudley Fire Department, three; Smith Chapel Fire Department, seven; Calypso Fire Department, three; and Grantham Fire Department, one.