The first blood donation drive of the year held at the Bolesławiec Regiment attracted considerable interest among the soldiers. Even before medical staff from the Wrocław blood donation centre arrived at the barracks, a group of several dozen soldiers willing to donate this invaluable fluid voluntarily had gathered at the medical services facility of the 43rd Military Economic Division at the 23rd Artillery Regiment.
Honorary blood donation has several decades of tradition in the Bolesławiec garrison. The HDK club operating at the unit has been actively participating in a dozen or so HDK drives and blood donation promotion initiatives every year for 32 years. It is therefore unsurprising that the number of soldiers wishing to share their blood—the invaluable fluid indispensable in the process of restoring health and saving lives—is steadily increasing.
During Monday’s honorary blood donation drive, the artillerymen donated a total of 27 litres of blood. “That is more than we expected,” admits the event’s co-organiser and long-time HDK member, Warrant Officer Grzegorz Prystupa. “It is encouraging that with each successive drive, new soldiers wishing to support those in need join the ranks of regular blood donors.”
The next drive, involving trainees undergoing preparatory service for the National Reserve Forces, is scheduled for 2 February.
Capt. Remigiusz Kwieciński/ii