In 29-year-old, George Town resident Shaikh Shamsudeen’s mind is lodged a memory that time cannot bleed away. Back in 2016, that memorable day arrived unbidden, and when it ended, a desire Shamsudeen had nursed for years had been fulfilled; the desire to follow in his father Shaikh Sadaqathullah’s footsteps as a selfless blood donor. New College has always had a strong culture of blood donation, supporting government hospitals particularly Royapettah GH. And on that day ten years ago, an urgent request for AB Negative blood rolled into the open doors of Shamsudeen’s classroom in New College; it was required for someone undergoing treatment at Cancer Institute. In a fraction of a second, Shamsudeen’s hand went up. That hand would keep going up with the same eagerness over the years whenever a need for AB Negative showed up on the horizon. Shamsudeen has registered with Madras Voluntary Blood Bureau (MVBB), based in Gopalapuram and run by TTK Group as a service to society, and whenever he receives a call-up from them, he is in attendance at that address the next moment. In April this year, MVBB celebrated its Golden Jubilee.Get startedThere are many organisations that drive blood donation on an everyday basis and also through campaigns. Here are some organisations that can help one get started on blood donation.* Rotary Central TTK VHS Blood Bank is being run at Voluntary Health Services (VHS) in Tharamani, round the clock. Contact: 044-22542829*Madras Voluntary Blood Bank (MVBB) at 6, Cathedral Road in Gopalapuram, organises blood donations for people in need, connecting donors with those who need blood. Contact: 9841821997/ 9094039538 / 044-28111403 (Saturday and Sunday are off days)*Crescent Blood Donors at Crescent college campus in Vandalur. Though located at an institution, outsiders can also donate blood after being screened; the group can be contacted for blood donation needs too. Contact: 9087410874*Through blood donation drives, New College supports blood bank at government hospitals as well as individuals looking for blood donors. The college does not have a dedicated blood bank, but its administrative office can be contacted at 044-28351269/ 28350386*For donating blood and to receive blood as donation, contact Federation of Indian Blood Donors at 9381005254*Direction for Volunteers (D4V) conducts blood donation drives and its efforts help medical establishments such as Voluntary Health Services and Institute of Child Health. For details, WhatsApp D4V at 7448888065*Lions Blood Bank & Research Foundation is located at 130, Marshalls Road in Egmore. For details, call 044-28414949*Rotary Blood Bank on Medavakkam Main Road in Vanuvampet functions 24/7. For details cal 044-22422639 / 22420754Shamsudeen elaborates: “As I have a rare blood type, I do not donate blood once in three to four months as many donors do, but donate when there is an emergency, an urgent need for AB Negative. MVBB keeps a record of when I donated blood, and in an emergency, they would call me if I am within the date for donating blood again.”Bookmark this thought: irrespective of whether one’s blood group is rare or common, one would do well to be attached to a blood donation organisation so that one gets tuned in to the idea of donating blood as often as they can by virtue of getting timely reminders and urgent call-ups.Shamsudeen’s blood donation tally stands at 22. As he desired, Shamsudeen’s journey as a blood donor has followed the same trajectory as his father’s.(Before proceeding with the how of it, a snapshot of a recent honour to the father-son duo. Last month, on World Blood Donors Day, Crescent Blood Donors honoured Shaikh Sadaqathullah and his son Shaikh Shamsudeen for their commitment to blood donation at an event organised at Kavikko Convention Centre in Mylapore. The award was jointly presented by noted film director Ameer Sultan and Ahmed Buhari, trustee of B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology) Besides the commitment to donating blood as often they can and the choice to be attached to MVBB, father and son share their blood type, AB Negative. The blood donation tally of Shaikh Sadaqathullah, 56 years old, stands at 53. As Sadaqathullah notes, a tinge of disappointment slipping into his voice for a fleeting moment, he stopped donating blood due to health concerns. (A trivia: Sadaqathullah is an amateur radio operator and his call sign is VU2SDU)Sadaqathullah’s blood donation journey was initiated at the Perambur Railway Hospital in 1993 where he donated blood responding to a friend’s call. “It was then I realised that my blood group was rare. Any negative blood type is considered rare, and AB Negative is rare even among the negative blood types. Globally, 2 per cent of the population has this blood type. Given this, I have not donated at blood donation camps, only when there was an emergency need for AB Negative, and MVBB would call me.”The interviews with the father and son duo were conducted separately, and what struck was the similarity not only in the language they used, but also the sentiments they expressed.There is a lesson there, and probably hope too, for blood donation champions such as Srivatsa Vema from the Federation of Indian Blood Donors Organisation (FIBDO) who has expressed concern over a decreasing number of blood donors.Bookmark this thought too: if you gripped by a mission to increase the numbers of blood donors, but do not know where to begin, begin at home. Have conversations with your children about your blood donation journey. It sure works: ask the Shaikhs.A family tradition