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Olympian urges people to become blood donors

Michelle Kline was part of the U.S. Women's Speed Skating team during the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. Now she's stressing the importance of donating blood.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Michelle Kline was part of the U.S. Women’s Speed Skating team during the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. She gets excited even talking about it.

"From the White House this was my White House invitation,” said Kline.

Those experiences came close to not happening.

In June of 1991, Kline suffered serious injuries after a car crash just months before Olympic Trials.

RELATED: Medal-worthy donors wanted Feb. 22 at KARE 11

"When I woke up in the hospital the doctor said you have a lacerated spleen, kidney, punctured lung, broken ribs, "said Kline.

She also lost a lot of blood and needed two blood transfusions. Without them, she says, she wouldn't have lived.

(Credit: KARE 11)

Now she organizes blood drives as her way of giving back hoping to save many lives and dreams.

"My pitch was, ‘hey help save somebody’ because by giving blood just one unit of blood, you can save three someone's and I was that someone," said Kline.

KARE 11 is hosting a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 1-7 p.m. Donors will receive food and gas vouchers and free cookies. Plus one donor will win a 43" television! Kline says she will be at KARE 11 donating blood at 1 p.m.

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