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They started as if in a real marathon, but their finish line was a bed in which to extend their arm to give hope and a future to the sick, always voluntarily, anonymously and free of charge. They are the 250 young people, all under 28, who are participating in the second edition of the 24-hour blood donation marathon organized by the provincial Afds of Udine in the transfusion center of the capital’s hospital.
The initiative, which this year received the high patronage of the European Parliament as well as that of the Region, the Regional Council and AsuFc, has the aim of both promoting donation and exercising the entire healthcare machine in case of emergencies that require exceptional quantities of blood. The Youth Group, which started the idea last year, managed to involve 250 peers, or rather more given that several reserves are also foreseen in case the donor is not found suitable at the time of the medical examination. There are also numerous senior donors and section managers to provide logistical support and not only throughout the 24 hours, especially during the night phase. The medical and nursing staff are also well motivated and feel like they are protagonists, like the donors, of this solidarity challenge.
The provincial president of the voluntary association was present on the starting line Roberto Floratogether with the deputy Mauro Rosso and the youth representative Luca Lacovigand the general director of AsuFc Denis Caporalethe director of the Transfusion Medicine Department Giovanni Barillari e the head of the Regional Blood Centre Andrea Bontadini.
In the first edition open to all age groups, in June 2023, 221 donors participated, of which 125 under 28 years of age, who came to the Udine hospital from all 198 sections present from the mountains to the sea. At the end of 24 hours, 116.4 liters of blood had been collected. All numbers that we are trying to overcome this year. The verdict will be released on Friday (tomorrow 14 June) at 12pm, on the day when Blood Donor Day is celebrated throughout the world.
It is possible to follow the marathon through the Afds social networks, furthermore the donation count is constantly updated at the following address: https://afds-24ore-countdown-frontend.onrender.com
