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Miri – 29 March 2011 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak)’s non-profit student volunteer organisation, Curtin Volunteers! (CV!), held its CV! Blood Donation Drive for the first semester of the year in the university’s Recreational and Events Centre on 23 March 2011.

The drive, which was organised in collaboration with the Miri Blood Bank, carries on the university’s tradition of holding bi-annual blood donation drives on its campus since 2003. In addition to helping the Miri Blood Bank replenish its blood stock, the drives encourage the campus community, particularly the students, to participate in philanthropic activities.

With each drive, a considerable number of students and staff make it a point to participate and this most recent drive was no exception. Out of 86 volunteers who came forward, 76 managed to donate their blood.

Benedict Jong, a senior medical lab technologist at the Miri Blood Bank who was present at the drive, said he was very happy with the number of students and staff who participated as his team had anticipated 50 to 60 donors only.

He added that the CV! had done an excellent job in organising the drive, from its promotion to the preparations and execution.

The blood bank’s senior assistant information officer Lily Sinta, meanwhile, said she was grateful to the CV! for its efforts in encouraging students and staff of the university to donate blood through the years. She encourages all healthy young people to volunteer as blood donors and help save lives.

The organising chairperson of the event, Rachel Chuo, a first year chemical engineering student, was also pleased with the outcome.

“Though it is unfortunate that not all those who turned up were able to give blood due to various factors, such as the screening process and the fact that only a limited amount is collected at a time due to the short shelf life of blood, we hope they will continue to support our blood donation drives,” she said, adding that a second blood donation will be held in the second semester of 2011.

The CV! is the largest and one of the most active student volunteer organisations at Curtin Sarawak. It organises community service projects both within Miri and in rural areas. During the annual John Curtin Weekend (JCW), which is held simultaneously by CV! chapters at all Curtin campuses, the CV! would spend two weekends living and carrying out projects in rural communities. It also organises an annual fundraising event supporting local charities.

For more information about the CV! and Curtin Sarawak, visit www.curtin.edu.my or call +60 85 44 3939.

Rachel Chuo presenting a plaque to Benedict Jong of the Miri Blood Bank

The CV! with Miri Blood Bank staff following the successful blood donation drive

Blood donation in progress

Students and staff waiting their turn to give blood.