With a little bit of luck and a lot of donors, UNC can take back the distinction of holding North Carolina's largest single-site, single-day blood drive.

In the past two years, Appalachian State took that title away with its September drives, collecting more than 1,060 units in 2008 and just over 1,000 last year, beating our 966 and 976, respectively.

We just can't let that stand.

Faculty, staff, students and members of the community all are invited to make sure Tar Heels triumph over Mountaineers this year by donating at the 22nd annual Carolina Blood Drive with the American Red Cross, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 8 in the Dean Smith Center.

Besides the satisfaction of beating Appalachian, donors will get big thank-you's from Carolina stars including Chancellor Holden and Patti Thorp; Coach Butch and Tammy Davis; Bill Roper, dean of the School of Medicine, vice chancellor for medical affairs and chief executive officer of UNC HealthCare; Eric Montross; Carla Overbeck and Woody and Jean Durham.

Chancellor Thorp also will thank former Chancellor Paul Hardin, who started the Carolina Blood Drive 22 years ago. He'll visit the drive with his wife, Barbara.

Don't forget the free snacks after you give, all donated by generous local merchants. Opportunities for door prizes are also available. With all these folks on the bandwagon, you know that you want to help Carolina succeed, too. To make an appointment and for more information, visit www.unc.edu/blood.

Katrina Coble

Carolina Blood Drive