Ávila Blood Drive: New & Regular Donors Save Lives

A blood donation marathon began Tuesday in Ávila, Spain, kicking off a regional initiative aimed at bolstering blood reserves ahead of the Easter holiday and a subsequent public holiday in April. The initiative, coordinated by the Center of Hemotherapy and Hemodonation of Castilla y León (Chemcyl) in collaboration with the Regional Health Service (Sacyl), will visit nine provincial capitals and El Bierzo by March 31st.

The first hours of the marathon in Ávila saw 24 people attempt to donate, with 21 successfully contributing, according to local reports. Donors included municipal employees and politicians. Potential donors must be over 18 years old and weigh more than 50 kilograms to qualify.

Alejandro Reveriego, president of the Ávila donors, expressed optimism about exceeding donation goals. Organizers are also appealing to local brotherhoods to encourage participation. The drive aims to address anticipated dips in blood supply during vacation periods, when donation rates typically decline.

The route continues Wednesday in Segovia and Valladolid, following Tuesday’s event in Burgos. Thursday will see marathons held in León, Salamanca, and Soria. Palencia, Soria, and El Bierzo are scheduled for Friday, with the final event taking place in Zamora on March 31st, according to Chemcyl.

The initiative represents the first coordinated effort of its kind across all nine provinces of Castilla y León. Chemcyl highlighted the critical need for blood and its components for surgeries, cancer treatments, transplants, chronic illness management, and emergency care. The organization notes that maintaining a consistent flow of 450 donations daily is essential to meet regional healthcare demands.

Regular donors, such as Ángel and Enrique, employees of the Ávila city council, emphasized the life-saving impact of their contributions. Carolina, a first-time donor, described the process as easier than expected, despite initial apprehension about needles. She was advised to eat before donating and felt well enough to return to work shortly after, though staff recommended she rest and rehydrate.

According to Chemcyl, men can donate up to six times a year, while women can donate up to four times. The campaign, dubbed ‘Castilla y León dona’, seeks not only to replenish supplies but also to attract new donors to ensure a sustainable blood supply for the region.