RIYADH: An international Filipino fraternity recently launched its second blood donation drive in the capital as part of the group’s social responsibility in helping patients who are in need of blood.

The Triskelion International-Central Region Council (TI-CRC) organized the humanitarian activity dubbed “Blood Letting Project Part II: Give Blood, Save Lives” for the benefit of patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC).

According to the group’s elder adviser, Amen Panolong, a total of 40,000 ml of blood from the members of the fraternity were donated to the KFSH&RC that day.

He said in April this year, the group donated 50,000 ml of blood to the patients of the same hospital.

“It is one of our ways of expressing gratitude to a country and people who have generously provided employment to countless Filipinos,” said Christopher Reyes, TI-CRC chairman. “This is part of the fraternity’s commitment to providing community service and aims to increase health consciousness among members.”

“No doubt the first and foremost objective of our organization by donating blood is the exalted feeling of saving someone’s life. If we donate the little excess blood in our body, it could save someone’s life without creating any problem for us. Blood donation is the most valued service to mankind,” he observed.

Speaking further the group head said: “Nothing is comparable to the preciousness of human blood. The gift of blood is the gift of life. There is no substitute for human blood. Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous donors,” he observed.

Expressing his gratitude, Fahd Mohammed Al-Herabi, coordinator of the KFSHRC blood bank, said, “we express our genuine appreciation for this gesture to the fraternity for this act of charity.”

According to the organizer, the project is a collaborative effort of the City Center Chapter, the Kingdom Chapter, Khurais Chapter, Delta Chapter and the Industrial Chapter of the fraternity.

TI-CRC is honored to be one of the largest and outstanding Filipino communities in the Middle East, particular in the Kingdom, and conducts activities such as community and medical services.

It regularly provides financial assistance, relief goods and other items in kind to various foundations and organizations in the Philippines especially during calamities, charity events and sports festivals such as the yearly women’s volleyball tournaments attended by various hospitals and companies with the support of numerous companies, and regular blood donations in various hospitals in Riyadh.