The annual blood-letting campaign of the Ayala Coop will be held on Thursday, February 29, with the Coop inviting its members as well as employees of the Ayala Group of Companies and their friends to join the noble activity that has seen perennial success over the years. 

              “We are excited to invite you to participate in the Ayala Coop Blood Drive, an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of others.  Your generous contribution can save lives and bring hope to those in need,” the Coop said in an announcement.

              The activity being undertaken in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and the Ayala Group will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 29 at the South Room at the 25th Floor of the Ayala Tower One and Exchange Plaza located at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City.  The activity is open to Ayala and non-Ayala employees.

Qualifications of donors

              The Coop said anybody interested to be a blood donor may do so if he is in good health, is between 16 and 65 years old (16- and 17-year-old donors need their parents’ consent), weighs at least 110 pounds, has a blood pressure between 90 and 160 mmHg in systolic and between 60 and 100 mmHg in diastolic, and will pass the physical and health history assessments.

              The prospective blood donor should also have the proper preparation before the donation process, including having had enough rest and sleep, having had no alcohol intake 24 hours prior to the donation nor medications for at least 24 hours prior to the process, had something to eat except fatty food before it, and drank plenty of fluid, like water or juice.  Travel activity, medications, tattoos and piercings will also be assessed onsite.

‘Spirit of giving and camaraderie’

              The Coop said that joining this noble cause makes the participant “embody the spirit of giving and camaraderie that defines our Ayala Coop community,” adding that one’s participation and support would be deeply appreciated by the Coop, which has been at the forefront of this blood drive that has collected thousands of bags of blood from generous donors since this program was started more than 10 years ago.

              “Together, we can make a meaningful impact and demonstrate the power of compassion within our community,” the Coop said in its announcement.