A marathon under the slogan "Blood donation matters!" will start at higher education institutions in Belarus on September 24 and will run until June 14, 2020 – World Blood Donor Day, Vladimir Sorokin, PR specialist of the National Research Center for Transfusiology and Medical Biotechnologies, coordinator of the social project "Belarus has a kind heart!", told BelTA.
Anyone can participate in the marathon: not only students of higher education institutions and volunteers from student teams, but also employees of enterprises and private companies. For the latter, as Vladimir Sorokin noted, this is an opportunity to hold an interesting event based on the principles of corporate social responsibility, making a significant contribution to saving someone's life.
The marathon will be opened by cadets of the University of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The large-scale marathon will be held as a continuation of the republican social project to promote and develop voluntary blood donation among youth "Belarus has a kind heart!". It is aimed at increasing the motivation of young people to participate in the donor movement, forming a culture of blood donation, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. In 2016, there were 22,196 voluntary blood donations in the country. In 2017, when the project started, this number increased to 47,096, and by the end of 2018, it reached 53,691.
"Today, most diseases, including cancer, can be cured. But this requires donor blood. By becoming a blood donor, you can save more than one life, while also getting a boost of positive energy and checking your own health," said Vladimir Sorokin.
The marathon is organized by the Main Department of Educational Work and Youth Policy of the Ministry of Education and the National Research Center for Transfusiology and Medical Biotechnologies. -0-