Avis blood donation drives in Italy honor cyclists and urge summer giving

In Andria, the local Avis chapter marked the first anniversary of a tragic road accident that killed three volunteer cyclists—Sandro, Antonio and Vincenzo—by organizing a blood‑donation day on 3 August at the L. Bonomo Hospital. The event, promoted by Avis president Vincenzo Zingaro and the municipal sports department, aims to turn the loss into a community service. A follow‑up public meeting on road safety for cyclists and pedestrians is scheduled for 7 August in the Chiostro di San Francesco.

Separately, Avis Toscana launched a summer‑donation appeal in Florence, where president Claudia Firenze and regional president Eugenio Giani donated blood together at the Piero Palagi Hospital. They warned that blood supplies typically fall in August, stressing that hospitals still need a steady flow of donations to meet surgical and emergency needs. Both campaigns highlight the ongoing need for blood and plasma throughout the summer months.