Public welfare project launched
Writer: Zhang Yu | Editor: Stephanie Yang | From: Shenzhen Daily
The first batch of 100 taxis with the unique slogan “Associate, appreciate” will soon be running on the streets of Shenzhen, reaching out to people as a publicity platform for voluntary nonremunerated blood donation (VNRBD).
The taxi drivers, who are voluntary blood donors themselves, will take on roles as advocates and recruiters for the cause.
The taxi fleet is part of a public welfare project that was jointly launched by Shenzhen Shumkang (Group) Co. Ltd. and Shenzhen Blood Center yesterday.
The project aims to build a mobile taxi platform with a unified logo and is committed to publicizing VNRBD, recruiting voluntary blood donors and providing free shuttle services for blood donors on a regular basis.
“We hope that the project can help more citizens understand the significance of VNRBD, encourage more people to actively participate in the public welfare activities of blood donation and turn Shenzhen into a city imbued with warmth, kindness and harmony,” said Du Jun, general manager of Shenzhen Shumkang (Group) Co. Ltd.
Wen Zhiyong, one of the taxi drivers who have joined the project, told reporters that he started donating blood in 2013 and has made four 400-milliliter blood donations so far.
“I think the project is very meaningful because there are so many people who need help. As far as I know, more than 600 people need a blood transfusion in the blood center every day. The number of blood donors needs to be expanded, because we ourselves may need a blood transfusion one day in the future,” Wen said.
Shenzhen Shumkang (Group) Co. Ltd. is a leading enterprise in Shenzhen’s transport sector and owns 2,317 electric-powered taxis in the city.
The company has organized blood donation activities for six consecutive years and more than 1,000 of its employees have participated in the activities, it said.
Shenzhen Blood Center is the blood supplier for more than 70 medical institutions in Shenzhen and has been promoting VNRBD since 1993. In October 1998, Shenzhen took the lead in China by realizing the goal that the amount of blood collected through VNRBD fully meet the demand of blood for clinical use.