Armed Forces Programme, IIM Ahmedabad organise a blood donation camp

The donated blood will be utilised for the treatment of more than 800 children of Ahmedabad suffering from Thalassemia

Student officers of the Armed Forces Programme (AFP), at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), organised a voluntary blood donation camp in the heritage campus on January 6, 2019. The camp was conducted in association with the Ahmedabad chapter of Indian Red Cross Society and the donated blood will be utilised for the treatment of more than 800 children of Ahmedabad suffering from Thalassemia.

The theme of the drive was “Donate Blood and Find the Hero in You”. 252 people from the IIMA community including faculty, students, staff and their families came forward to donate blood. Out of these, 205 people successfully donated in an eight-hour long session, some even marking their birthdays by the noble deed. Kalpesh Makwana, one of the security guards on the campus, who celebrated his 44th birthday today, said, ‘I have been donating blood on every birthday for the last six years. I am extremely happy to do it today in the institution where I am employed’.

The numbers set a new record among blood donation camps held on the campus. The initiative was generously supported by grocery e-retailer, Big Basket, which provided sumptuous nourishments to all donors.

Cdr Mohan Kumar and Sqn Ldr Sumedha Chopra, students in AFP and members of the organising team expressed their sincere gratitude to the entire IIM Ahmedabad community for making this event a huge success. Commenting on the event, they said “We were really charged up to take on this event and make it a grand success. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the immense support from the whole IIM community. Many first time donors were extremely excited to come forward and contribute. We thank the whole IIM community and the Indian Red Cross society for having given us this opportunity and making this event a grand success.”