Influencers Visited Ohio State for Blood Drive
Social media creators toured campus landmarks to promote the ongoing Abbott We Give Blood competition.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy
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British travel influencers Josh Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason Riley recently visited Ohio State University in Columbus. The duo met with former running back Joe Gantz to encourage blood donations for the Abbott We Give Blood campaign.
Why it matters
The visit promotes a collegiate competition aimed at increasing blood supply across the Big Ten. The campaign incentivizes participation with a significant financial reward for the university that secures the most donations.
The Abbott We Give Blood competition involves 18 Big Ten schools competing for a $1 million grand prize. Donations made between August 12 and December 4 contribute to the school totals.
The players
Josh Cauldwell-Clarke
He is a British travel creator who documents global culture with his partner, Jason Riley.
Jason Riley
He is a British travel creator who works alongside Josh Cauldwell-Clarke to highlight campus traditions.
Joe Gantz
He is a former Ohio State University running back who met the influencers during their visit.
The details
Josh and Jase, who share roughly 1 million Instagram followers, documented their visit to local landmarks including Mirror Lake and Ohio Stadium. They intend to donate blood themselves while supporting the effort that concludes in early December.
Timeline
August 12, 2026: Official start date for eligible blood donations.
October 13, 2026: Influencers released a video featuring campus traditions.
November 28, 2026: Ohio State will host Michigan for a football game.
December 4, 2026: Deadline for submitting eligible blood donations.
December 5, 2026: Winner announcement scheduled for the Big Ten championship.
Market Landscape
The Abbott We Give Blood campaign represents a growing trend of corporate-sponsored philanthropic initiatives leveraging influencer marketing to drive civic engagement. This partnership positions the brand to capture increased visibility across the competitive landscape of higher education loyalty programs.
Readers can contribute to the competition by donating blood online at BigTen.org/Abbott or by texting GIVEBLOOD to 222688. These efforts directly influence the standing of Ohio State in the competition for the $1 million prize.
The takeaway
Participating in organized blood drives serves as a tangible way for students and alumni to support both their university and public health efforts. Keeping track of the donation window is essential for any contributions to count toward the final standings.
What happens next
The winner of the $1 million prize will be announced on December 5, 2026, during the Big Ten football championship game.
Further reading
For more on local charitable initiatives, visit Philanthropy.
More information
To contribute to the cause, visit the blood donation competition submission portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Advocate.
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