July 22, 2026
By Jonathan Rich
BrevardBeagle.com
The American Red Cross and Transylvania County’s first responders hosted a competitive blood drive Wednesday afternoon to see which emergency organization could get the most votes and the most units of blood donated in a six-hour period.
Volunteers opened their veins and bled red at Brevard Wesleyan Church from noon to six, then designated their organic units of life-giving blood to honor members of the Brevard Police Department, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department, Transylvania EMS or the Brevard Fire Department.
The winning group in the inaugural “Battle of the Badges” was The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department … who accounted for 45 of the total 83 units of blood donated Wednesday.
Sheriff Chuck Owenby proudly accepted both the crystal trophy honoring the accomplishment from the local Red Cross along with bragging rights for the next year.
Transylvania County EMS finished a distant second with 15 total units and the Brevard Fire Department under the leadership of Chief Chase Owen finished third with 12 votes… narrowly edging out final and last-place finisher Brevard Police Department led by Chief Christy Wentzell with only 11 donor units
Owenby said the church does two blood donation drives a year and the goal of each was typically 45 units donated at each, so he considers the event … and the community support for his officers and staff … an unparalleled success for its first year.
The American Red Cross provides approximately 40% of the nation’s blood supply with more than 2,500 hospital partners nationwide.
For information on where you can next donate blood locally, call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Read the full news release below:
