Hemopa celebrates World Blood Donor Day with a June festival and donor mobilization
The initiative collected 479 blood bags at the three units of the blood network in Greater Belém, a number that can save up to 1,916 lives
The Hemopa Foundation held a major mobilization on Saturday (14) to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, as part of the Red June campaign. The special program took place at the three collection units in the Metropolitan Region of Belém — headquarters in the Batista Campos neighborhood, Castanheira Post, and Metrópole Post — and brought together volunteers, partners, and institutions committed to the donation cause.
At the foundation's headquarters, on Padre Eutíquio street in Batista Campos, the event was named "Forrozão da Doação," featuring thematic decorations, cultural performances, typical snacks, bingo, and shirt customization. Among the attractions were the Firefighters' Band, the Folkloric Group Encantos Amazônicos, the duo Joel & Luz, and singer Adson Paranhos, who entertained the donors throughout the morning.
During the program, certificates of appreciation were given to donors who performed special procedures, such as apheresis and phenotyping, as well as to birthday celebrants of the day and a mobilizing partner. One of the honorees was reserve military Marco Antônio Fernandes. "I started by donating blood and then moved on to platelet donation. Helping others is an honor. One day it might be me in need. It’s a task I carry with pride, and I hope more people will also dedicate themselves to this gesture," he stated.
Another symbolic moment was the action "Passing the Baton," dedicated to donors who are turning 70 years old, the age limit for donating. The proposal was to value the journey of these volunteers and encourage them to pass on the solidarity example to family and friends.
The mobilization also involved several solidarity caravans, gathering organized groups that came together to reinforce blood stocks. The Universal Church was one of the institutions present. "We are here with a significant group that came to donate voluntarily. Donating blood is a gesture of faith, solidarity, and care for others. When Jesus gave his blood for us, he saved lives. We are just following that example," highlighted Pastor Paulo.
The Paysandu Sport Club and Clube do Remo participated in the campaign. Paysandu has been a partner of Hemopa since 2017. "It is an honor to be here on World Blood Donor Day. Paysandu has a long-standing partnership with Hemopa since 2017. The club has been awarded several times as the largest mobilizer of donors in the region. It is gratifying to see that other companies and institutions also embrace this cause," stated Thalys Cardoso, the club's social responsibility director.
Clube do Remo also joined the celebration through the participation of its official mascot, who was present at the Hemopa headquarters, interacting with the public and cheering on the blue supporters who came to donate blood. The symbolic presence reinforced the club's engagement with social causes and contributed to the festive atmosphere of the campaign.
The campaign also featured the engagement of civil society institutions, such as the Menino de Aço Association, created in memory of Breno Moab, a young man who faced leukemia at the age of 18. The group was the first partner to arrive at Hemopa to donate blood on this World Blood Donor Day. "We spent three years fighting for his life and experienced firsthand the difficulty of finding donors after each chemotherapy session. Today, we do not campaign because we need to, but because we want to help others," reported Simone Lucena, founder of the association.
The action brought together more than 80 collaborators from partner companies Lucena Infraestrutura and Malta, who participated in the campaign both in Belém and Barcarena. "At the company, they joke calling me a vampire because I am always looking for donors. But I do this because I know the value of a blood bag. As my son used to say: blood is life. And today, being able to return this gesture collectively is gratifying," she added.
The program also highlighted testimonials from frequent donors, such as administrator Jório Bahia. "Donating blood is like donating a part of ourselves. A part that regenerates. The feeling of duty fulfilled is priceless," he said.
The president of the Hemopa Foundation, Paulo Bezerra, reinforced the role of the date as a social mobilization. "June 14 is a date when we celebrate, commemorate, and, above all, encourage blood donation, which is a simple, quick gesture capable of saving up to four lives. For us, it is a very great responsibility," he stated.
At the end of the day, the result was significant: 479 blood bags were collected, with the potential to benefit up to 1,916 patients throughout Pará.
Service:
The Red June campaign continues until the 28th, with a program that includes the Walk for Sustainable Life, the Solidarity Gincana among municipal servers, and a round table with professionals from the hospital network.
