Humble blood donor is cited for his long years of altruism
March 26, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN Shen Yuejiang first rolled up his sleeve to donate blood more than 20 years ago, he was starting a habit that would play a role in the rest of his life.
"Donating blood is a humanitarian act," he said. "When I gave blood and thought that I was maybe helping someone prolong their life, I felt proud and happy."
Shen, 67, a retired Shanghai Railway Bureau worker, donated 25,000 milliliters of blood, roughly equal to the blood volume of five adults, in his 23 years as a donor.
Although he is now past the official 55 age for donors, Shen is trying to get that limitation lifted so that more older, healthy people like him can continue giving blood. He is now an active advocate in helping the Minhang blood bank recruit more donors.
"I don't think age is so much a concern," Shen said ruefully. "It's really only physical condition that matters."
Shen was recently given an award by the Ministry of Health and China's Red Cross Society in recognition of his long years of blood donation and his advocacy work for the blood bank. He was also named a Shanghai Model Worker.
Shen's home in the Hebei residential complex on Jiangchuan Road in Minhang is filled with stacks of blood donor certificates and other honors for his community volunteer work. Still, he remains modest, shrugging off any suggestion that he's anything but an ordinary person.
"My generation was deeply influence by Lei Feng," said Shen, referring to the popular tale of a People's Liberation Army soldier who was held up as a national hero for his selflessness and died on duty at the age of 22.
Perhaps it was a similar desire to help his fellow man that got Shen started as a blood donor. He remembers the day it happened.
"I was walking past the Ever Shining Circuit Cinema 23 years ago, and I saw people waiting to donate blood," Shen said. "It caught my attention. I saw that donors emerging from the blood bank didn't look any worse for wear, so I joined the line."
Shen never told work colleagues or friends about the donations. He said he didn't think it was anything special.
At first, Shen's wife and children were leery about his becoming a regular blood donor, fearing it would harm his health. But Shen didn't get sick after giving blood, and he even prided himself on his energy and good health.
"When climbing mountains, I scampered up higher than people a lot younger than me," he said with a smile. His wife, daughter and son eventually joined him as blood donors.
Shen now volunteers to do advocacy work for the blood donor program. He distributes materials and is happy to talk to people about the painless process of giving blood to help others. He has been working four days a month in blood-donor vehicles.
"One person's power is limited," he said. "I want to encourage more people to join in the team."
Telling my story is a good way of persuading others to donate."
"Donating blood is a humanitarian act," he said. "When I gave blood and thought that I was maybe helping someone prolong their life, I felt proud and happy."
Shen, 67, a retired Shanghai Railway Bureau worker, donated 25,000 milliliters of blood, roughly equal to the blood volume of five adults, in his 23 years as a donor.
Although he is now past the official 55 age for donors, Shen is trying to get that limitation lifted so that more older, healthy people like him can continue giving blood. He is now an active advocate in helping the Minhang blood bank recruit more donors.
"I don't think age is so much a concern," Shen said ruefully. "It's really only physical condition that matters."
Shen was recently given an award by the Ministry of Health and China's Red Cross Society in recognition of his long years of blood donation and his advocacy work for the blood bank. He was also named a Shanghai Model Worker.
Shen's home in the Hebei residential complex on Jiangchuan Road in Minhang is filled with stacks of blood donor certificates and other honors for his community volunteer work. Still, he remains modest, shrugging off any suggestion that he's anything but an ordinary person.
"My generation was deeply influence by Lei Feng," said Shen, referring to the popular tale of a People's Liberation Army soldier who was held up as a national hero for his selflessness and died on duty at the age of 22.
Perhaps it was a similar desire to help his fellow man that got Shen started as a blood donor. He remembers the day it happened.
"I was walking past the Ever Shining Circuit Cinema 23 years ago, and I saw people waiting to donate blood," Shen said. "It caught my attention. I saw that donors emerging from the blood bank didn't look any worse for wear, so I joined the line."
Shen never told work colleagues or friends about the donations. He said he didn't think it was anything special.
At first, Shen's wife and children were leery about his becoming a regular blood donor, fearing it would harm his health. But Shen didn't get sick after giving blood, and he even prided himself on his energy and good health.
"When climbing mountains, I scampered up higher than people a lot younger than me," he said with a smile. His wife, daughter and son eventually joined him as blood donors.
Shen now volunteers to do advocacy work for the blood donor program. He distributes materials and is happy to talk to people about the painless process of giving blood to help others. He has been working four days a month in blood-donor vehicles.
"One person's power is limited," he said. "I want to encourage more people to join in the team."
Telling my story is a good way of persuading others to donate."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
