Central Michigan University may have defeated Western Michigan University 34-23 in football last fall.

But it was WMU winning the schools’ blood drive last month.

CMU and WMU gathered blood for the American Red Cross, said Dave Weston, community coordinator of the Central Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross. As of Thursday, Central had donated 199 units of blood compared to Western’s 376.

Friday was the last day for donations.

“We’re about helping the community that we’re living in by working together,” Weston said,

He said that way, students can “show the community how much blood the two schools can raise.”

The CMU and WMU Blood Drive Partnership was held in a variety of locations around CMU’s campus, including St. Mary’s University Parish, 1405 S. Washington St., Sweeney Hall and the Emmons Hall lobby.

Ann Arbor senior Alena Fear is not afraid to donate blood — she has been doing it since high school.

“I knew that there were people out there that needed it,” Fear said.

She said the system only works if a lot of people continue to donate.

“We might need it ourselves one day,” Fear said.

Weston said students should give blood simply to save lives.

“You can call it being a hero with having to wear a mask,” Weston said.

Blood Drive Supervisor Marcia Price said each unit of blood has the potential to save three lives.

Fear has donated blood about 10 times so far. She said she tries to donate as often as she can — about every two months.

“It is very rewarding,” Fear said. “It’s giving a little bit of yourself to a few people who really need it.”

E-mail the author: Susan Young