Facing a critical need for blood, local American Red Cross representatives are hoping Pittsburgh and Cleveland sports fans will turn out to give blood and support their favorite teams.

Blood Feud 2002, sponsored by the Mercer County Chapter of the American Red Cross, is set for noon to 6 p.m. Monday at The Rosemont Banquet and Conference Center, 200 Sterling Ave., Sharon.

Anyone who donates blood can vote for their favorite sports team -- Pittsburgh or Cleveland. Steelers and Pirates fans have dominated the vote totals in past years, more than doubling the number of Cleveland fans last year.

There will be contest for the fan dressed to best represent their team, Dan Dilley, blood services coordinator, said. There will be prizes and a dinner provided by The Rosemont.

In addition to voting for their favorite sports team, blood donors can help add to the blood supply, which is at a critically low level.

"We are in an emergency situation," Dilley said. The blood supply is usually low in the summertime with more people involved in activities and less people donating blood because they're on vacation, he said.

The fued's goal is 195 pints, Dilley said.

There is a critical need for O negative and A negative blood, Dilley said. There is an urgent need for O, A and B positive blood and B and AB negative, Dilley said. Anyone with any of those blood types is asked to donate, he said.

"We're not going to turn down anybody," Dilley said. "One donated unit (of blood) can help three to four people."

"Last week the Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, America's Blood Centers and other national health agencies teamed up in an unprecedented joint urgent appeal for blood donations. Prompting this appeal are increasingly significant blood shortages, leaving certain parts of the country with less than a one-day supply," a news release from the American Red Cross said.

0Lynn Saternow, associate sports editor of The Herald, is the Cleveland co-chairman, while Bob Greenburg, sports director of WPIC/WWIZ Radio, is Pittsburgh co-chairman.