Special event for next Saturday’s World Blood Donors Day

World Blood Donors Day will be commemorated on Saturday, 14 June and the National Blood Transfusion Service will be organising a special event on the day, outside its premises at St Luke’s Square, Gwardamangia between 9am and 3pm.

The main aim of the event is to encourage and extol societal appreciation, particularly from the recipients of blood, for blood donors.

The square will be hosting numerous activities that cater for people of all ages.

Ġorġ and Pawlu, Firelight, Gianluca Bezzina, Kurt Calleja, Gaia Cauchi, La Voix Academy and various dancers from different dancing schools will be giving performances. The square will also be hosting artists who will be painting under the shade of the square’s trees.

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca will also be in attendance. During the visit, the President will deliver a special message and together with donors and their children, will be flying balloons representing the three colours of the three blood products derived from whole blood donated by donors to patients.

The invitation also extends to all patients who have received blood who, for this special occasion, are encouraged to bring along a Thank You card and present it to those donating blood on the day as a token of their appreciation. The cards will later be displayed at the Blood Donation Centre.

The Red Cross, St John’s Am- bulance Brigade, Transplant Support Group and the Midwives Association will be participating, while the Civil Protection Department will also be on hand for a captivating demonstration by its Dog Search and Rescue Team.

Those attending will also be given information from the Health Information Unit and will have the opportunity to have their blood glucose level and blood pressure tested.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring along their ID cards so that they too can donate blood, which as stated by the National Blood Transfusion Service, “gives hope and life.”

The special event will be aired live on Radju Malta from 11.30am to 3pm.