Blood donation drive at Curtin Sarawak on 17 April

Miri – 22 March 2013 – A blood donation drive in support of the Miri Blood Bank will be held at the campus of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 17 April 2013 from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm at the university’s Recreation & Event Centre.

Participation is open to all students and staff of the university and pre-registration will be held from 8 to 16 April 2013, from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm at the foyer of its Harry Perkins Lecture Theatre.

Held bi-annually with each new semester at the university, the drive themed “Curtin’s Life Saving Mission” is organised by the Curtin Volunteers! (CV!), the largest student-run organisation at Curtin Sarawak, in collaboration with the Miri Blood Bank at the Miri Hospital and supported by Curtin Sarawak’s Department of University Life.

In addition to collecting much-needed blood for the blood bank, the CV! also aims to increase awareness of the benefits of donating blood and the requirements for becoming a qualified blood donor through the drive.

For example, donors must weigh a minimum of 45 kg, refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol before donating, and allow a lapse of at least three months since their last donation before donating again. It is also a little known fact that donors can benefit from an increase in immunity against diabetes, high cholesterol and Hepatitis B as a result of donating blood.

The CV! has been organising blood donation drives since 2003 with significant support from students and staff. During the last drive in August last year, blood was collected from 66 donors, reaching the target set by the blood bank.

Apart from blood donation drives, the CV! has organised other activities and events such as beach cleaning campaigns, charity fundraisers, and community outreach projects in support of rural communities and local charities such as the Miri Sunflower Centre, Palliative Care Association Miri (PCAM), Piasau Animal Welfare Support (PAWS), Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS), Methodist Children’s Home and Miri Mental Health Association.

Recently, the CV! handed over donations amounting to RM13,500 to PCAM at a simple ceremony held on campus. The donations were raised from corporate sponsors, guests and well-wishers during a fundraising dinner held in conjunction with the CV!’s 10th Anniversary celebration late last year.

For more information on the blood donation drive, contact Lee Kar Kei at 012-502 2335 or by e-mail to leekarkei.kay@gmail.com, or alternatively, Chan Siew Siew at 016-873 5393 or cyndi_chan92@hotmail.com.

Blood donation drives at Curtin Sarawak have received significant support from students and staff since 2003.