Giang Thị Hạnh (sitting on the left), donates her blood for the first time at the Xuân Hồng (Red Spring) festival 2024 after being encouraged by her son. Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Chí Nguyên, a member of the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation, did not tell his mother about his first time donating blood some years ago.

He was afraid that his family would not allow him to do the voluntary work.

Giang Thị Hạnh, Nguyên’s mother, said she somehow felt worried that her son would neglect his studies if he took part in too many activities of the association.

But, seeing her son become gradually mature after two years of taking on the voluntary activity, she has learned about the meaning of blood donation and now no longer discourages him from donating blood.

Nguyên is now proud to tell his mother he has donated blood and platelets ten times.

Being an active member of the association for the past two years, Nguyên is now one of the leaders of group 24/1 under the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation.

Nguyên’s passion for blood donation has encouraged his mother to make a donation as well.

Hạnh, Nguyên’s mother, donated her blood for the first time at the Xuân Hồng (Red Spring) Festival 2024 held this month, the biggest annual blood donation campaign.

Many of the association’s members have encouraged their parents to make a donation.

Trịnh Xuân Phúc, father of Trịnh Xuân Thuỷ, chairman of the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation, travelled a long distance to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion many times to donate blood, following his son’s call.

Thuỷ said he was lucky to receive his family’s support for his attendance in the blood donation campaigns since the early days.

“At first my parents were a little bit worried about me taking part in too many voluntary activities and neglecting study,” he told Vietnam News Agency.

In spite of spending lots of time on voluntary work, Thuỷ has still made good academic performance and received scholarships at his university.

“That is the evidence to show my parents that I can do voluntary work, at the same time, still can study well,” he said.

"Parents always want their children to live well and become helpful people for society. Seeing helpful actions taken by children, all parents support them because they feel the humane meaning of blood donation," Thuỷ said.

Bùi Thị Thắm, mother of Nguyễn Duy Hoàng Anh, leader of group 6/1, said: “When my son who was a freshman called to announce that he would join the blood donation association, I asked him whether he could focus on study at school.”

In spite of her worry, Thắm told her son that she trusted him and his decision.

“Every time he returns home to visit family, I can feel his maturity in communication and knowledge. Then I know his decision to become a blood donation leader was the right choice,” she said.

On the occasion of the 2024 Spring Festival, last weekend the Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation organised a meeting with the families of blood donation campaign leaders.

All of the leaders said that support from their family is an important factor giving them more confidence in their chosen path. — VNS