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Mumbai Ultra with TMC to organise blood donation drive on Aug 15

Those willing to organise camps can also do so in their residential complexes

Mumbai Ultra in association with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has announced a massive blood collection drive on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day at Shivaji Park, Mumbai to ensure the blood banks in the hospital maintain necessary stock and the cancer patients get the necessary blood support during their treatment in the hospital. 

This is the second year running that Mumbai Ultra Marathon runners have partnered with TMC to start this unique drive where the motto is “If we cannot, let our blood run” – an attempt to turn the current challenging times into an opportunity. 

Each year, the runners organise a marathon on 15th August and dedicate it to the treatment of children with cancer in TMC. However, because of the pandemic and the prevailing restrictions, Mumbai Ultra Runners decided to organise a blood donation camp instead of on August 15, 2021, at Veer Savarkar Bhavan, Dadar, Mumbai. 

Chirag Shetty, Team India – Badminton @ Tokyo Olympics 2020 as the Event Ambassador said, “I am happy to associate myself with the Mumbai Ultra Blood Donation Drive and Tata Memorial Centre for the second year in succession and honoured to be given the Event Ambassador tag. The blood donation cause is close to my heart, and I am so looking forward to spending quality time at the drive “.

Dr Sunil Rajadhyaksha, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Tata Memorial Centre, said, “Blood stocks in Mumbai have been low for the last few months as a result of paucity of blood donation camps in educational institutions and workplaces due to low attendance. Though individual blood donors have made it possible to visit hospital blood centres for the donation they do not and cannot suffice for the considerable needs of a medical hub such as Mumbai. Those willing to organise camps can also do so in their residential complexes. Utmost care is taken for the safety of donors by following COVID norms.”

Dr CS Pramesh, Director, Tata Memorial Hospital, “We need approximately 20,000 red blood cell units, 9000 plasma units and 6000 platelet bags every year. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a significant drop in walk-in donors to the hospital.”

Dr Shripad Banavali, Director (Academics), Medical & Pediatric Oncologist, Tata Memorial Centre, “Organising camps like the one on August 15, 2021, with the help of Mumbai Ultra, is the only way forward for us to continue serving our patients during these challenging times. Less than one per cent of the eligible population in India today donate blood. If through the spread of awareness and increasing societal participation, through such camps, this number can be increased to just two per cent, the entire country’s problem will be solved. The difference between one and two may seem small but that is all we seek.”

 

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