Blood drive set in memory of Woodbridge quarterback Oct. 31

The 4Troy Foundation will honor the memory of an extraordinary young man, the late Troy Anthony Haynes Jr., with its inaugural blood drive set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 301 Mill St., Greenwood.

Troy was a kind, compassionate, and athletic teenager who started for Woodbridge High School’s football team as quarterback for four years and led the Blue Raiders to two state championships. He did this while hitting the books and maintaining an excellent 3.4  grade point average. On April 26, 2019, he was diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma. He never got the chance to continue his academic and football career at the University of Mount Union, as he died in September 2019, a week after his 19th birthday.

The 4Troy Foundation was created this year to uphold the legacy of Troy by providing youth mentorships, scholarships and guidance to those navigating the road of renal medullary carcinoma.

Blood drive coordinator Christina Haynes, Troy’s mother, and Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Manager Ralph Groves hope to fill 76 appointments at this Halloween blood drive. They hope to attract several Woodbridge High alumni and students.

The Blood Bank of Delmarva must maintain a seven-day inventory to supply 19 Delmarva hospitals, and inventory levels for key blood types A+, B+ and O+ are hovering around two to three days.

It takes 350 donors per day to help the blood bank keep all 19 hospitals in Delmarva stocked with the blood products they need to help patients.

To make an appointment, go to donate.bbd.org and use sponsor code 4TF or call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8.