The Indian Red Cross Society, Madurai Chapter, along with Lady Doak College, would conduct a blood donation camp to celebrate the National Blood Donation Day on Monday.
The man behind the show, V M Jose, the 63-year-old secretary of Indian Red Cross Society’s Madurai Chapter, had many feathers to his cap. For one, he had donated blood as many as 153 times and had been doing so ever since he was 20 years old.
Added to that, he had been conducting around 80 blood camps every year in Madurai.
Jose’s tryst with blood donation began when he donated blood for the first time for an emergency. The incident helped him realise the importance of blood donation and then, there was no looking back.
Jose did not stop with donating blood; he also inspired many youth to join the noble cause. “I continued to donate blood until I turned 60. Following doctor’s advice and due to ageing, I stopped donating blood. My blood group is O positive and I am happy that I have saved the life of many by timely blood donation. Although I stopped donating blood, I keep on organising camps and encouraging many to donate the blood,” he said. He remembered the day an old woman thanked him for saving her grandson’s life, who was desperately in need of blood.
The community of regular blood donors was quite large and each member had a story to tell.
Yegappan (66) of Andalpuram, who donated blood 85 times, said “I never expected anything from the receivers. In fact, I would donate without the knowledge of the receivers. Blood donors must be ready to render their help despite busy work, rain and other natural calamities,” he said.
There were many more in the city who have silently been part of the movement and instrumental in ensuring regular supply of blood to patients.
Varadarajan of North Veli Street in Madurai, Kuppuraj of Subramaniyapuram and Rajkumar of Ponmeri were a few who continued to render their service, unsung, yet with great motivation, Jose said.
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