Italian cities Siracusa and Modena celebrate World Blood Donor Day with youth‑focused events

In Siracusa, the local AVIS chapter held a ceremony honoring more than 200 newly‑eligible 18‑year‑old blood donors. The evening featured testimonials from the FASTED thalassaemia association, a young bone‑marrow donor, and Olympic sprinter Matteo Melluzzo, who spoke about the link between sport and donation. Organisers praised school‑based outreach that led students from six secondary schools to become first‑time donors, and they presented certificates of first donation. The event concluded with a DJ set and acknowledgments to school coordinator Prof. Sinatra, volunteer Angela Gullì, and the regional transfusion service.

In Modena, the “Volontari per la Vita” celebration took place on 13 June at the Arena cultural space. Co‑organised by the Ministry of Health, the National Blood Centre, AVIS, the Italian Red Cross and other partners, the free event combined live performances by six emerging Italian artists with speeches from blood‑system representatives. Attendees heard personal stories from donors and recipients, and guided tours of Modena’s historic centre were offered later in the day. Both events marked World Blood Donor Day and aimed to boost youth participation in blood donation.