“I’m happy because we have reached our goal, which was to enroll thirty-five first-time donors”.
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Saturday evening the satisfaction could be read on the face of Florence Grosso, coordinator of My Blood For The Others, the big annual collection organized by the two rotary clubs Chalon Bourgogne Niépce and Chalon Saint-Vincent and by the Inner Wheel Chalon in association with the Etablissement français du sang (EFS) in Bourgogne Franche-Comté and with the support of the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors in Chalon.
On this last day of winter, thirty-eight new donors took the first step by going to the hall of the Municipal Council of Chalon, the usual place of Mon Sang Pour Les Autres since its first edition in the city of Niépce. in 2017. A result that only confirms over the years the slow but constant increase in the number of first-time donors compared to the total number of donors presented: 23.21% in 2018, 23.65% in 2019, 25% in 2021 and 25.50% in 2022. A result which places Chalon in 3rd place nationally for the presentation of new donors since the start of 2022.
In more than 120 cities in France since 1998
Because it should be known that My Blood For The Others is a national action of Rotary which exists since 1998 and which takes place in more than 120 cities of our country. It all started with one observation: each year, in France, more than a million patients are cared for thanks to blood donation. In total, more than 450,000 donors have been welcomed in almost a quarter of a century in a festive and friendly atmosphere. Because that is also My Blood For The Others!
A small problem, however, with the total number of donors presented. This year it is one hundred and forty nine. We are far from the record number of one hundred and eighty-six recorded in 2019. But that was before… Before the Covid-19 which turned our daily lives upside down. A small regret, because at the end of winter the needs are always pressing.
Face to face works…
As you can see, the Chalonnais organizers of Mon Sang Pour Les Autres have set themselves the goal of attracting as many first-time donors as possible. And every year they give themselves the means. This Saturday, throughout the day, several teams criss-crossed the pedestrian streets to encourage passers-by to come and make the saving gesture. This is how Bernadette and Mélanie, two charming cheerleaders, came especially from Woldatie Transursique, a country you know well since the recent Carnival – he had sent us his most beautiful air hostesses on this occasion! – spared no effort to raise awareness in Chalonnais and Grandschalonnais about blood donation.
Mr. Mayor and the Elan mascot…
Despite a busy schedule on this Saturday, March 19, Gilles Platret, Mayor of Chalon, Bruno Legourd, deputy in charge of health and social affairs, and Dominique Rougeron, municipal councilor, delegate for the elderly and support for the disabled, have honored with their presence at this meeting of solidarity. True to form, the first magistrate of the city even set an example by donating his blood. As in 2018 and 2019, Scott, the mascot of Elan Sportif Chalonnais, did not fail to make a detour to the town hall, before going to the Coliseum to support his favorite team against Blois.
Due to Covid-19, the traditional post-donation snack was once again replaced by a meal tray served by the tireless Annick Reviron, assisted by the dynamic team of the Chalon Volunteer Blood Donor Association in the Mayors’ Hall.
On the entertainment side, they were more limited than usual. A drawing competition was nevertheless organized for CM2 students from the town’s schools. A competition in which the schoolchildren of Jean Moulin, East, Louis Lechère, Rives de Saône and Saint-Jean-des-Vignes took part. The winning design will be printed on T-shirts which will be distributed to the winner’s entire class. In addition, donors and organizers were able to admire the talent of Flintstone, a promising young illusionist, whom the festival-goers of Chalon dans la Rue have already been able to applaud in the past.
Gabriel-Henri THEULOT
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