Curtin student volunteers holding blood donation drive

Miri – 9 August 2011 – The Curtin Volunteers! (CV!), the largest student-run, non-profit organisation in Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak), is holding the first of its bi-annual blood donation drives for the year on the university campus on 10 August 2011.

Carrying the theme Every Drop Counts, the blood donation drive is being organised by a team headed by geology student Leslie Ng Chang Sam in collaboration with the Miri Blood Bank. It is scheduled to be held from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm in the Recreation & Event Centre, but could be extended should there are sufficient donors and blood bags available.

“We encourage as many students and staff as possible to come forward and do their part to help save lives,” said Ng, adding that those on a tight schedule can make prior appointments so that they will not miss their chance at donating blood.

According to Ng, with Ramadhan and the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Miri Blood Bank is looking to ensure a sufficient supply of blood in case of emergencies.

The CV! has been organising blood donation drives at Curtin Sarawak bi-annually since 2003. The response from students and staff has always been encouraging and it is hoped more volunteers will come forward this time around.

Apart from blood donation drives, the CV! organises other community engagement events such as beach cleaning campaigns, charity fundraisers, and community outreach projects in support of local charities and rural communities.

Organisations that have benefitted from the CV!’s projects include the Miri Sunflower Centre, Miri Palliative Care Association, Piasau Animal Welfare Support (PAWS) Miri, Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS), Methodist Children’s Home and Miri Mental Health Association.

Another upcoming activity for the CV! is the annual John Curtin Weekend programme, during which student and staff volunteers will carry out community outreach projects in rural communities in the area. The activities will include donating used items such as clothing and books to the communities, giving talks to the young on matters like the importance of education and developing study skills, and helping the communities spruce up their villages.

This programme will be run concurrently by CV! chapters at Curtin’s campuses throughout the region over two weekends, that is, from 16 to 18 September 2011 and 23 to 25 September 2011.

For more information on the CV! and Curtin Sarawak, visit the university’s website at www.curtin.edu.my.

Scene at the CV!’s last blood donation drive.