If an early morning walk, a well-balanced diet, and a good night’s sleep contribute to a healthy lifestyle, Pilla Venkata Ramana Murthy adds donating blood as another secret component to staying fit.
On the eve of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, he shares how the self-less exercise has been part of his life and continues to have a positive effect on his health.
Unlike those who are under the impression that donating blood consistently reduces one’s stamina, this 59-year-old thinks otherwise. “In fact it boosts my energy levels. Every time after donating blood, I will be rushing to the college to take classes as usual. My students consider me as a great source of inspiration,” says Mr. Venkata Ramana Murthy, who works as a Sanskrit lecturer at BVK College.
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His first step towards life-saving movement began in 1977 when he was 21. “I was in Agra then, attending a blood donation camp organised by NCC cadets,” he recollects. And it was just the beginning of a long journey.
With a mission to donate blood once in three months, the volunteer participated in various camps conducted by blood banks across the city such as the Indian Red Cross Society, KGH Blood Bank, A.S. Raja Voluntary Blood Bank, and Rotary Blood Bank.
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However, the mega blood donation camp held last month by Rotary Club Visakha Port City seems to be a special for the volunteer. “I was not only happy to do my bit to Nepal earthquake victims as part of the event but also able to donate blood for the 82nd time. As a blood donor it gives me immense satisfaction to save someone’s life,” he reasons.
Elaborating his target, Mr. Venkata Ramana Murthy says, “Thankfully, I don’t have diabetes or blood pressure or any lifestyle disease that most people of my age suffer from. My ambition is to donate blood for the 100th time,” he adds.