'Big House' Event Helping Save Lives
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - The University of Michigan's "Be a Hero at The Big House" event is taking blood donations and signing-up potential donors to the National Bone Marrow Registry at Michigan Stadium on Wednesday.
The event is an exclusive opportunity for the public to see a part of Michigan Stadium that is normally closed to visitors.
"One of the things we thought we could do was open up this rather private space that a lot of people would like to get up here and see," U-M Athletic Director David Brandon said.
"So for the first time we opened up the Jack Roth club area which is a beautiful view of the field," Brandon said.
Brandon was happy with the event and could feel excitement in the atmosphere.
"People get to come up and here and give blood and sign up for the organ registry, the bone marrow program," Brandon Said. "Things are happening up here."
Several people participating at the event have a very special reason for signing-up, including Nicole Denton of Tustin whose 6 month old daughter needs a heart transplant.
"She's received blood and she's on the transplant list for a heart right now," Denton said. "She has hypoplastic heart syndrome and she's had two open heart surgeries. There's nothing more they can do for her so she's 1A on the transplant list."
Like all things University of Michigan related, beating Ohio State University is another goal of the event.
Blood donors can help U of M beat out OSU in their annual blood donation challenge leading up to their clash on the field Nov. 26.
The 'Be a Hero at the Big House' event runs through 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16.
