Duluth First Responders Compete in First Annual Battle of Badges Blood Drive

DULUTH, Minn. — First responders are facing off against each other in a little competition… and blood is involved.

The first annual Battle of Badges Blood Drive took place Wednesday. The Duluth Police Department, Fire Department, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service are all partnering with the Memorial Blood Center to make the event happen. The drive builds camaraderie between the agencies. And whoever can recruit the most blood donors wins a trophy and of course bragging rights.

“We work really closely with Duluth Fire and Mayo so, this is just another opportunity to have more of a fun environment and rather than those hard calls that we all respond to,” said Mattie Hjelseth, Duluth Police Department Public Information Officer.

“It’s fun to see people coming in and out of here today not in uniform and being able to just see the friendly faces that we do on the streets and then also put it together for a common goal in this blood drive,” said Katie Sandstrom, Firefighter for the Duluth Fire Department.

Blood is always needed. One local woman has donated 6 gallons in her lifetime. That means she’s donated 48 times.

“I’m so grateful to our public servants for doing this because this had made donations so important in our community. People see that our public servants are doing this for them so hopefully they’ll come out and do this also,” said Terese Tomanek, Duluth City Councilor and blood donor.

The Battle of Badges ended Wednesday at 5 p.m. but people can still donate and vote till the end of the week. The winner will be announced on Friday.