Pint for pint blood drive planned

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The second annual Pint for a Pint Blood Drive will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Seymour Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, 316 E. Tipton St.

Each person who donates a pint of blood will receive a free pint of ice cream.

The event is organized by the local Dairy Queen staff in memory of former owner Jeff Henry.

When Henry, 58, died in December 2011 of mesothelioma of the lungs, a rare form of cancer that is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos, his wife, Terri Henry, said she knew it would be difficult to carry on his legacy.

But they also knew he would want them to.

That’s why the family decided to find a way to honor their husband and father in a way that reflected his love of the business and of the people who supported it.

“There’s always a need for blood, so we thought this would be the perfect way to honor and remember him,” Terry Henry said.

Blood will be collected by the Indiana Blood Center, which provides blood products for Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

Donors contributed 32 pints of blood last year during the drive, said Briana Henry, Jeff Henry’s daughter and Dairy Queen manager.

“This was an amazing experience last year, and we are hoping to collect even more pints this year,” she said. “We know dad would be proud.”

Anyone interested in being a blood donor should be at least 16 years of age (those younger than 17 will need a signed parent or guardian consent form), weigh at least 110 pounds, pass a brief physical and health history screening, be healthy and have a photo I.D.

Not all people are eligible to donate.

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