In Blois, blood donation is getting a facelift

Marie and Léopold don't know each other, but they have one thing in common. They donated blood for the first time at 18, the age when one can begin their life as a donor. “My parents already did it, it’s important for me to do it”says Marie Collonniers, 29, filling out a form before going through the obligatory interview with a doctor from the French Blood Establishment (EFS).

Léopold discovered blood donation during his first year at Insa (National Institute of Applied Sciences) in Blois. “Physically I feel good, so I have no problem giving”notes the 20-year-old student from Normandy and member of the AAJ Blois Tennis Club.

“Before I came here, I didn’t know that you could give so easily. » His school, in conjunction with the EFS, also regularly organizes blood donation days to raise awareness among young people.

“If we want to give, there is no reason not to”

Marie, who lives in downtown Blois, admits the side ” practical “ and appreciates the “nice” side of this big collection at the castle. She especially enjoys her only non-working day of the week. “I usually do it between noon and two in Orléans where I work as an accountant. With colleagues, we try to motivate each other. »

These two young people are not going to give blood reluctantly. They are motivated and are regularly contacted by messages from the French Blood Establishment. “If we want to give, there is no reason not to”confides the future engineer who donates blood two to three times a year. “I try to do it four times a year,” adds the young accountant.

Around 50% of first-time donors

While Marie and Leopold, lying quietly, clench and unclench their fists to better transfer the 500 ml of blood, the seats fill up in the mini-waiting room of the castle.

Among the donors, many young people are present. “Every year we have around 50% of first-time donors”welcomes a Rotary member co-organizer of the event which continues Saturday, November 23.

Need 275 donations per week

The seduction operations at the Crous (Regional Center for University and School Works) in Blois, and the distribution of leaflets at the entrance to the university restaurant are beginning to bear fruit.

For the EFS and all blood donor associations seeking to retain these future donors, this My Blood for Others operation in Blois therefore becomes vital. Remember that for the Loir-et-Cher department alone, 275 donations are needed each week.