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Lights football teams with #TroyStrong in blood drive

The Montana State University-Northern Lights football team is teaming up with a young football fan Wednesday to try to increase blood donations.

A release from the Lights said the team is teaming with the family of 4-year-old Troy Ross of Great Falls in the #TroyStrong movement to hold blood drives, particularly to increase the amount of rare blood donated.

A blog entry on the Montana Red Cross website said Troy was diagnosed when he was 3 with a rare auto-immune disease in which his immune system attacks his lungs.

He had to have blood transfusions before he was airlifted to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, where close to three-quarters of Troy’s blood supply had to be replaced in the next month.

“Blood donors made all the difference,” the blog entry said.

The release from the Lights said the mission of #TroyStrong is to encourage the life-saving deed of blood donation.

The blood drive is set for Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Jude Parish Center at 440 Seventh Ave.

“Northern Football has partnered up with Troy’s family to help make this happen,” it said. “You can register online at: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=troystrong/.

“Please take the time out of your day to help someone in need,” it added. “Go Troy! Go Lights!”

  Red Cross regularly says all blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age — 16 with parental consent — weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

 

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