RWJUH Hosts Annual 'Tackle Sickle Cell' Blood Drive

From RWJUH: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital was proud to host the Annual Tackle Sickle Cell Blood Drive in partnership with current NFL and former Rutgers University Rutgers Football stars Devin and Jason McCourty’s Tackle Sickle Cell Campaign and the Embrace Kids *Official* Foundation.

A record 280 donors came out to our Courtyard for the annual Blood Drive. Our deepest thanks to all the hospital and system employees who supported this event. RWJ Blood Services collected 96 units of whole blood, from which 77 units of plasma were manufactured. Seven single donor platelets, three packed red cells and five units of plasma where collected on TRIMA as well.

The blood drive is an annual event in support of the McCourty twins' Tackle Sickle Cell Campaign (TSC), which they launched in partnership with the Embrace Kids in 2013. TSC aims to educate the public, increase blood donors, and raise money and awareness for the fight against sickle cell disease. Through this partnership, Embrace Kids has provided $100,000 in scholarships to young adults with sickle cell since the beginning of the TSC campaign. This year’s event was especially significant as Devin McCourty recently earned his second Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots.

Photos courtesy of RWJUH