Take advantage of your lunch break to 'date' at the Spring Pink Festival

It is expected that each day the Red Spring Festival will receive 800 - 1,000 units of blood - Photo: DUONG LIEU

On the afternoon of February 20, the 17th Spring Festival organized by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Hanoi Youth Blood Donation Association officially opened.

Take advantage of your lunch break to go donate blood together.

Present at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion since 12 noon, Mr. Tuong Duy Dong (43 years old, Hanoi) and his wife took advantage of their short break to go to the hospital to donate blood voluntarily.

Mr. Dong shared that he is currently an employee of the Ha Dong District Water Plant (Hanoi). Normally, he would finish his shift at 11:30, but today he planned to donate blood so he asked for permission to leave 15 minutes early. The couple had a light meal and then went to the hospital in time to donate blood.

"The last three times I was "refused" to donate blood because I did not meet the criteria. Therefore, right after Tet, I made a plan to ensure my health and eat healthily to participate in donating blood. This time, I met the requirements to donate blood, so I was very happy. I think donating blood at the beginning of the year is a good deed in the new year, helping patients in need of blood," said Mr. Dong.

Mr. Tuong Duy Dong (Ha Dong district, Hanoi) took advantage of his lunch break to donate blood voluntarily at the Red Spring Festival - Photo: DUONG LIEU

Waiting for their turn to donate blood, a group of 7 friends still wearing company uniforms chatted with each other about the number of times they had donated blood. Mr. Khoa (one of the group) said this was the first time the whole room had gone on a "spring outing" to this special place together.

"Every year, we usually go to the temple together at the beginning of the year. But this year, we decided to change the location. This idea came from a colleague who has donated blood 17 times.

Everyone asked the boss for permission to leave 20 minutes early, taking advantage of the lunch break to donate blood. That way, we can both ensure our work and do something meaningful," Khoa shared.

New Year's "Giving" Festival

Not only groups of friends and individuals actively participate in blood donation. This year, the Red Spring Festival also welcomed a group of more than 50 "guests" from Van Giang district, Hung Yen to donate blood.

At the beginning of the year, instead of going on a spring outing or visiting pagodas, Mr. Le Trung Truyen (Hung Yen) encouraged people to go to the Red Spring Festival to donate blood. Having been involved in the Red Spring Festival since 2007, Mr. Truyen has now encouraged his family and more than 100 local people to participate in voluntary blood donation.

"In early spring, people often go to the pagoda for luck. I donated blood at the Spring Festival to bring luck to everyone," said Ms. Le Thi Bich Diep, daughter of Mr. Le Trung Truyen. Ms. Diep, like everyone else, wanted to contribute a small part so that patients do not lack blood for transfusion.

More than 50 people from families from Xuan Quan commune, Van Giang district, Hung Yen donated blood at the 2024 Red Spring Festival - Photo: Provided by the character

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, shared that unlike thousands of spring festivals taking place across the country, this is the only festival where attendees do not pray for anything for themselves.

"They came to donate precious drops of blood - a part of life for the sick. That is what makes the Spring Festival special, unique, and distinctive and creates lasting vitality, leaving many impressions and memories with the participants," Associate Professor, Dr. Thanh said.

Anemia Institute, thousands of people join hands

Before Tet, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion issued an appeal for blood donations as it was short of 10,000 units of blood for Tet. As soon as the announcement was made, thousands of people came to the institute to donate blood. After just one week of launching the campaign, there was enough blood in reserve, helping hundreds of patients return home for Tet.

During the 7-day Lunar New Year holiday, 1,628 people came to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to donate blood and platelets. It is expected that during the Red Spring Festival, 800-1,000 units of blood will be collected each day. The festival will last until February 25.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tranh-thu-gio-nghi-trua-hen-ho-tai-le-hoi-xuan-hong-20240220172004459.htm