August 2017 – Anavi Annual Blood Donation Camp at AESM Kolkata Office
Fortune favours the brave, as the saying goes ! It was indeed brave on our part to organise our most important important event of the year at the peak of monsoon. The downpour came, but much later.
The donors had already lined up before time. By the time we finished about four and a half hours later, we had 93 donations out of more than a 100 who registered.
Blood donation is serious business but Anavi members made sure everyone was relaxed. There was banter and jokes all around. The first timers, who may have a had a bit of an anxiety, lost all their fear of the needle and made excellent debuts.
Vegetarian and non- veg food packets, also glucose water were arranged expecting a smaller crowd, but we were pleasantly surprised at the response. So some last minute arrangements had to be made. Being better halves of seafarers, Anavi ladies always keep a contingency plan ready.
The big numbers were thanks to the efforts of Mr. Rajan Bose and the AESM Kolkata office staff. They personally called up seafarers who were on leave, including giving them reminders the day before the event. Our sincere thanks to Mr. R.D. Rai who sent many of his students from his Skill Centre. The Cadets from Marine Engineering and Research Institute came in a big group of more than fifty which made up more than half of the donors. A lot of them first timers.
To make the event memorable, Anavi distributed a memento to all donors ; Anavi mug signifying that the person was a part of the 8th anniversary celebrations. The effort and support made this Saturday of August a day when we bettered our own record. The team from Thakurpukur Cancer Hospital were at a loss of words and most sincere in gratitude.
Monsoon being a season where blood requirements for patients increases, this event was a big blessing for them. They have been a part of this event for last three years and it has got bigger and better every time .They themselves are always looking forward to this day every year.
Hoping we are fortunate like this day and achieve many more successes in our 9th year. Our thanks to all our supporters and well wishers for helping us get here. We sincerely hope they will be a bigger part of the journey as we aim for bigger heights in coming years.
