Sweet Incentive: Honey Offered to Blood Donors in Châteauroux
CHÂTEAUROUX, FRANCE – October 8, 2025 – Residents of Indre are encouraged to donate blood this Wednesday, October 8th, at the Balsan’éo aquatic center in Châteauroux, where each donor will receive a complimentary jar of honey courtesy of local beekeeper Thierry Périgord. The blood drive, part of the nationwide “My Blood for Others” campaign, runs from 11:30 a.m.to 6:30 p.m.
The annual event, organized by the French Blood Establishment (EFS) and supported by Rotary clubs in Châteauroux, George Sand, Levroux Châteauroux Airport, and Inner Wheel, aims to bolster national blood supplies. “My Blood for Others,” launched by the Rotary Club in Toulouse in 1998, has grown into Europe’s largest blood collection initiative, now operating in over 120 French cities.
Organizers are especially focused on attracting first-time donors as the existing donor pool ages. “More and more donors are affected by the age limit, so we are particularly looking for primary donors, people who have never given their blood,” explained Philippe Simonet, spokesperson for the Rotary clubs.
To be eligible to donate, individuals must be between 18 and 70 years old, weigh at least 50 kg, present a photo ID, be well-hydrated, and avoid donating on an empty stomach. Along with the honey gift, the L’Escale restaurant will provide a significant snack for all donors.
The Indre region typically sees around 110 donors participate in these collections.To minimize wait times, appointments can be scheduled online at Dondesang.efs.sante.fr or via the blood donation app. The campaign supports the EFS’s ongoing mission to maintain national self-sufficiency in blood products.