Police and Fire Face Off to Help Save Lives at 5th Annual Janesville Battle of the Badges Blood Drive
Police and Fire Departments compete to boost the region’s blood supply
ROCKFORD, Ill. (Feb. 18, 2026) – The Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) will host the 5th annual Janesville Battle of the Badges Blood Drive in partnership with the Janesville Police and Fire Departments to help boost the region’s blood supply. The blood drive will be held on Monday, Feb. 23, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Woodman’s Sports and Convention Center located at 2510 Milton Ave. in Janesville, WI.
The friendly competition invites community members to donate blood and cast a vote for their favorite department. The agency with the most donations will earn bragging rights and a traveling plaque for the year. The Janesville Fire Department has won the competition for the past three years
As a thank you, successful donors at the event will receive a coupon for a free pint of custard from Culver’s.
“The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is a powerful reminder that saving lives starts right here in our community,” said Lisa Entrikin, CEO of the Rock River Valley Blood Center. “When we come together for this event, we’re not just voting for a team, we’re making sure hope is on the shelf when it’s needed most.”
To reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance at rrvbc.org. First-time donors should bring a valid photo ID.
About Rock River Valley Blood Center
The Rock River Valley Blood Center is your community blood center and is the only provider of blood products and services to Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Rockton, Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville, Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Harvard, Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Walworth, Mercyhealth Hospital and Physician Clinic-Crystal Lake, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, UW SwedishAmerican Carbone Cancer Center, SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere, Beloit Health System, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, FHN-Freeport and Rochelle Community Hospital. The center has four convenient donor centers in Rockford, Freeport, and Belvidere, and the ability to support up to three mobile drives a day. The Rock River Valley Blood Center ensures that the right blood type is available at the right time for local patients whose lives may depend on it. Patients and their families rely on individuals to provide life-giving red blood cells, plasma, and platelets through blood donation.
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