Interview with Egor Dubov

Tell us about the project, how it all started.

Our donor movement started in the summer of 2023. The youth project «Leaders of Nizhny Novgorod region» is a unique regional project that brought together the most active youth. It is not surprising that among these people there was a large number of both active donors and those who had long wanted to become them. In June 2023, we decided to hold the first joint donor action. We planned 50 participants and decided to provide outdoor. We collected the applicants, contacted our blood center, agreed on the place of handover with the management of the football stadium «Nizhniy Novgorod» and everything worked out. Thus began the story of the donor movement «Leaders of Nizhny Novgorod region».

What difficulties did you face in organizing donor actions?

During preparation the first donation, it turned out that many people did not participate due to various misconceptions. It was time for educational conversations. Participant of our project Elena Pyryeva told in detail about contraindications to donation, correct preparation for blood donation, and how blood donors contribute to the health of the nation. Educating future donors is an important part of our work. I remember that after the tragedy at Crocus City Hall, there was a surge of interest from people wanting to donate blood for the victims. We answered all questions regarding blood donation, explained the blood quarantine process, and emphasized that only regular donation makes a meaningful impact. We organize donor actions on a regular basis to ensure that all blood donated can benefit those in need.

What results have you seen, and what are your plans for the future?

Like-minded individuals have united, motivated by a desire to help one another, especially in these challenging times. We recognized this need and began organizing similar events every two months. We have already held four full-scale events with a total of over 100 participants. Additionally, we bring together groups of enthusiasts for tours of the blood center.

Do you receive support for your donor initiatives?

All actions are held in full cooperation with our project leaders, coordinators and with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod blood service. Besides the Corporate University of the regional government, where the "Leaders of the Nizhny Novgorod Region" projects are implemented, our donor actions have also received support from the Social Support Headquarters of the United Russia party, which held an educational lecture on bone marrow donation.

How do the donor actions go? Is there a common scenario?

Except for the first action, which was an outdoor event, the scenario for subsequent events has been relatively consistent: we announce a date and begin collecting applications. We use Yandex.Forms and send information to all project chats. The easiest method of communication is through chat rooms and Telegram. I personally promote the donor movement through my channel. We gather the total number of participants and send that information to the blood center for verification. After receiving confirmation, we communicate the details to our chats. If an individual is a first-time donor, we provide guidance and information. On the day of the donation, everything follows our plan. For convenience, we try to stagger the group by appointment times to avoid unnecessary queues. Participants come at their scheduled times, undergo screenings, and donate blood. The experience is accompanied by communication; we take photos and share our experiences.

What advice would you give to colleagues in other regions who have thought of organizing donor actions?

There will always be challenges. The key is to just start. Organizers may face a lack of commitment from potential participants. However, all negativity dissipates when people express their gratitude for the opportunity to donate. Some individuals may struggle to find the time to donate on their own, while others feel nervous and need support from their peers. Many are inspired by the personal examples set by the organizers and other participants.

Our traditional question: what would you wish donors and those who are going to join the donor program?

I wish active donors not to chase ranks, not overdo with the number of donations. Instead, I hope they cultivate positive thoughts and emotions. For those considering donating, I encourage you to be well-prepared for the donation, stay optimistic, and take that first step. Helping others is an integral part of a happy life!

Blood donation is always the story of people who are involved in the donation movement. Do you have any personal stories like that?

Elena Pyryeva, participant of the youth project «Leaders of Nizhny Novgorod region»

I learned the significance of blood donation early in my career while working as an anaesthetist nurse in a maternity hospital. I witnessed many situations where blood donations and the medications derived from them saved lives. One particular case involved a young woman of fragile build who experienced massive bleeding after giving birth to a relatively large baby. Thanks to the professionalism of the medical team and the plasma donor, the woman survived and had the opportunity to become a mother again. Another remarkable story is that of Christina Boguslavskaya, an alumna of our project. Ten years ago, she found her natural bone marrow donor and underwent a successful transplant, allowing her to be here today. When you're involved in these stories, you’re guaranteed to become an active participant in the donor actions.