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| Newly-weds Suvendu Kumar Pratap and Suchitra Jena donate blood at their wedding reception on Wednesday in Chandol village of Kendrapara district. Telegraph picture |
Kendrapara, June 6: A newly married couple donated blood at their reception, making the event a blood donation camp.
Guests including the newly-wed’s close relatives turned donors voluntarily as they took part in the reception ceremony.
“It’s an exemplary gesture on part of the couple. They deserve praise. Others should follow their example,” said Sachikanta Nath, a volunteer.
“Volunteers of a charitable organisation prevailed upon me to carry out a blood donation camp during the wedding reception. I promptly agreed to their proposal and gave them the nod for the camp. Accordingly the camp was organised yesterday. To encourage others, I was the first donor. My spouse followed me,” said 26-year-old bridegroom Suvendu Kumar Pratap.
Pratap, a native of Chandol village in Derabish police limits said: “My father Pramod Pratap also encouraged me to go ahead with this noble mission. However, some of my family members were initially hesitant. But when my wife and I came forward to donate blood, the reluctant family members joined us,” he said.
“It was a unusual occasion, as the donors had not made up their mind to donate blood. They had come to attend the wedding reception. However, they spontaneously donated blood. In the past, we have organised blood donation camps at various places. But this was different. The organisers on most occasions struggle to arrange for donors, but the numbers of donors hardly reach double digits. But yesterday’s blood donation camp was a different story altogether,” said Sachikanta Nath, chief co-ordinator of Ama Odisha, which organised the camp.
“This was the first time I have donated blood. I was awed. But I felt relieved after donating blood. Blood donated by me could save someone’s life,” said 22-year old bride Suchitra Jena.
“I was very happy after donating blood. I have decided to donate blood thrice every year,” said Bhabani Shankar Panda, a donor.
