Blood Battle | Communities race to donate the most blood

While they aren't the most dynamic images from the more-visual-than-usual blood drive, they were my personal favorite. No matter how you butter it up, the bottom line is that a blood drive means that someone in a white coat is going to suck blood out of your arm with a fat needle - no hiding that fact. After making a couple paper-friendly frames for print, the pictures below lean toward illustrating the uncomfortable, clinic-like atmosphere of what was an undeniably good-natured cause. Enjoy.

Brenda Dobry, left, relaxes while donating blood during the Blood Battle blood drive Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Communities all over the county competed to see who could acquire the most blood over a day's time.

Empty blood bags and vials littered tabletops around the makeshift donating station at the Blood Battle blood drive Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Communities all over the county competed to see who could acquire the most blood over a day's time.