The Governors’ Challenge Blood Drive (GCBD) - now one of the major Rotary blood donor networks under the umbrella of Global Network for Blood Donation, a Rotarian Action Group - is a tradition that started in the Texas District 5790 way back in 1998 when Governor -elect Sid Pruitt adopted the Rotary Club of Fort Worth South’s area challenge and made it district-wide. Since then the Challenge has grown.
The Challenge has spread throughout the central US as Governor Sharron Miles continues the tradition of expanding the Challenge – now the Cowboy Challenge reaches from Texas to Montana, encompassing all of Rotary Zones 21b and 27.
OUR BLOOD STAYS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES – OUR IDEAS GO AROUND THE WORLD
Based upon the tremendous life-saving success in the US, Rotary President Kalyan Banerjee (2011-12) invited the Rotary Governors of India to participate; and they unanimously joined in the Governors’ Challenge, working to help their country meet its needs for safe, voluntary blood donations.
GNBD continues to expand the Challenge. In Nigeria we partner with the Californian-based Safe Blood Africa Project which installs blood bank equipment; in France My Blood for Others/Mon Sang Pour Les Autres (MSPLA) works to meet the needs of local communities through Rotary led civic blood drives; in Tampa Florida the Vampire’s Ball builds upon our Governor’s Challenge tradition
And keep in mind: EVERY DONATION HELPS SAVE LIVES IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY