Every day, Shanghai requires 1,800 bags of blood to meet clinical needs

On International Children's Day, a group of expats in Shanghai rolled up their sleeves at a blood donation drive, giving the gift of life to help sick children, building a bridge of hope for those in need.

"Blood donation is like football — it's a universal language that brings joy, moves hearts, and inspires love across humanity," said Emanuel, an Italian who donated blood in China for the first time.

Ozge from Turkiye joined the event with her children, hoping to instill in them the value of helping others. The family traveled from Suzhou to take part.

"Blood has no borders. Life transcends race. Every life deserves respect and protection," said Ahmet Faruk Isik, China affairs consultant at the World Turkish Business Council and one of the blood donation event’s organizers.

The event, which was held at the Shanghai Children's Hospital, gathered over 100 expats living in Shanghai.

Doctor Ashish Maskay from Nepal founded Bloodline, a nonprofit advocacy group connecting expats with children battling diseases. He believes that every sick child deserves a carefree childhood. Bloodline organizes blood donation events annually, spreading warmth and strength to young patients.

During the event, local and international volunteers also prepared performances and shared homemade food, offering a platform for cross-cultural communication.

Blood cannot be manufactured — it can only come from healthy donors. Statistics show that Shanghai requires 1,800 bags of blood each day to meet clinical needs, including pediatric patients urgently needing transfusions to treat malignant blood cancers such as leukemia. Blood plays a vital role in curing these serious diseases.

 

Source: Jiefang Daily