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Battle of Badges: Competition and partnership
By DAN EAKIN, deakin@acnpapers.com
When the Plano Police Department and the Plano Fire Department conduct the sixth annual Battle of the Badges blood drive next month, it will be both a competition and a partnership.
Each of the departments will be competing to see which department can be responsible for the most donations of blood June 12-18 for Carter BloodCare.
"The Battle of the Badges is an annual tongue-in-cheek competition between the Plano Police Department and Plano Fire Department to motivate citizens to give blood for our community," Police Chief Greg Rushin said. "Each year, either the police department or the fire department wins the competition and takes the traveling trophy and bragging rights home until the next year. Really, we all win and lives are saved each year when we have this competition.".
Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza sees the event more as a partnership than as a competition.
"This is a great opportunity each year for the police department and fire department to partner together and combine our efforts to help the community," Esparza said,. "Also, people can be sure that their [blood] donation stays local."
Plano Mayor Phil Dyer pointed out that the event is both fun and serious.
"The competition between our fire and police departments is all in good fun, but the need for blood is critically serious," he said. "I hope that all of our citizens will show their support for our public safety professionals, and for our fellow citizens who must have blood, by rolling up their sleeves and making a donation.
"We are so fortunate to have outstanding people in our police and fire departments," he added. "The Battle of the Badges is another example of their commitment and service to our community. This blood drive is critically important to help those citizens who have life-threatening health issues in their lives. I would encourage all citizens to donate."
The Battle of the Badges is far more than just a police-firefighter event. Individuals, businesses, churches and service clubs all get heavily involved in saving lives by urging blood donations.
Carter BloodCare has released a list of sponsors who will give gifts to those who donate blood. They include Tino's Mexican Restaurant, Bavarian Grill, Greek Isles, Hirsch's Meats, Villines Chiropractor, Henry's Homemade Ice Cream, Andiamo Italian Restaurant, Secure Cam, Rover Dramawerks, Take Time to Travel, Poor Richards Café, Wells Brothers, Collin Creek Church, Soho Pub, Southernmaid Donuts, Eye Care of Texas and Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant
The first blood drive will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the Collin Creek Church, located at 1905 E. Parker Road.
Other blood drives will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 14 at Poor Richard's Café at K Avenue and Park Blvd.; from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15 at Plano City Hall at 1520 K Avenue; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 16 at the Plano Fire Station at 1901 K Avenue.
The June 17 blood drives will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plano Police Department at 909 E. 14th Street; and from 3:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.at Henry's Homemade Ice Cream, located at the intersection of Independence and Parker Road in Plano.The June 18 blood drives will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Poor Richards Café at 2424 K Avenue; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tony's Café on the northwest corner of Alma and W. Spring Creek Parkway; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Elliot's Hardware at the intersection of Coit Road and Park Blvd; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Asia World Market, just west of Central Expressway at 240 Legacy Drive; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the east entry of Collin Creek Mall, near the Sears lower level.
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