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The GOAT himself, Tom Brady, has joined forces with Abbott and the Big Ten Conference to kick off the We Give Blood Drive, a nationwide initiative that aims to tackle one of the most critical health issues in the United States — a blood shortage.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Brady stressed the importance of blood donations, saying, “We’re at a huge blood shortage in the U.S., and for every blood donation, you can save up to three lives. Sometimes, we take for granted the little things that make big impacts, and this is one of them.”

Brady has been a blood donor since high school and knows firsthand how impactful just one donation can be. Blood donations are essential for countless reasons, ranging from trauma and accident victims to women experiencing childbirth complications or individuals undergoing cancer treatments.

Young donors are key, but fewer and fewer under 25 are volunteering to donate, which is why this competition is more vital than ever.

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The We Give Blood Drive transforms the rivalry between Big Ten schools into a competition for the greater good. From September 26 through December 6, students, alumni, and fans of all 18 Big Ten schools will participate in mobile blood drives set up on campuses or at donation centers across the country.

Every donation counts as one point for their school, and the school with the most donations will receive a $1 million prize to further student or community health initiatives.

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“It’s a fun way to do good things in our communities and just happy to partner with Abbott and the Big Ten to do it,” he said.

And as a bonus, every donor will receive a free one-month subscription to B1G+, the conference’s streaming service.

Abbott’s CEO Robert B. Ford echoed Brady’s sentiments, stating, “The U.S. continues to experience ongoing blood shortages, and we knew as a leader in diagnostics and testing we had to do something powerful to draw in donors. What better way to inspire people to donate than tapping into rivalries between Big Ten schools and offering up a friendly competition?”

So, as college football season heats up, remember that this isn’t just about school spirit. It’s about saving lives. Let the games begin — and may the most generous school win! Keep track of donations live at BigTen.org/Abbott.

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Remso W. Martinez is a contributor to Bounding Into Sports. He's a Brazilian JiuJitsu practitioner and baseball fan based... More about Remso Martinez

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