Students from the Venice Lido campus participated enthusiastically in the initiative
Giving is quite different from exchanging because it is not do ut des (meaning ‘I give so that you may give in return’) but every gift brings with it a reward: a smile or the happiness generated by our gesture. Giving life is priceless—and that is exactly what happens every time we donate blood or bone marrow to someone we don’t know, somewhere in the world.
UniCamillus University, ADMO and AVIS regularly hold educational and recruitment events for new potential donors and volunteers. On Friday 14th November, students on the MSc in Medicine and Surgery at the UniCamillus campus in Venice Lido – at the IRCCS San Camillo – gave those waiting for it a chance at life, perhaps after a long wait.
The meeting began at 10:30 a.m. with an educational conference for students and was an important opportunity to raise awareness about blood and bone marrow donation. This was followed by the setup of a meeting point for students who had registered as donors. Today’s turnout was large and enthusiastic, confirming the deep human spirit of our student community.
AVIS Venezia: “Blood is life”
During the conference, Dr Raniero Colombo, President of AVIS Comunale Venezia, and Professor Fabio Reggio, President of AVIS Provinciale, addressed the audience.
Dr Colombo reminded everyone that donating blood is “a simple act that can change lives”.
“Blood is life, but when it is lacking, it becomes the only ‘medicine’ that cannot be synthesised in a laboratory”, he said. Blood and plasma are the source of essential blood products used to treat anaemia, immunodeficiencies, and certain cancers. AVIS is committed to collecting whole blood. However, more work is needed to increase participation among 20–35-year-olds, in order to replace those who are no longer eligible to donate. Plasma donations also need to grow to achieve self-sufficiency in this area. Even those who cannot donate blood can still help by spreading the word.
This clear message found fertile ground among medical students, who are well aware of the vital role donors play.
ADMO: “Compatibility is extremely rare. Young people make the difference”
ADMO’s message was delivered by volunteers, donors, and recipients, supported by medical staff responsible for collecting saliva samples for tissue typing.
“Meeting UniCamillus students is a valuable opportunity to share accurate information. Knowledge and awareness are the first steps in approaching bone marrow donation, allowing for calm, informed, and lasting decisions”, explains Stefania from the ADMO administration office.
“For stem cell transplants, genetic compatibility between non-relatives is so rare—just 1 in 100,000—that it’s essential to encourage as many young people as possible to join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry (IBMDR). We hope that today’s event, filled with emotion and positive energy, will inspire more young people to become donors”.
Alice, a 20-year-old girl who recovered from leukaemia thanks to a bone marrow donor attended the event. Her testimony is especially powerful—not just a story, but a first-hand account of suffering and fear transformed into hope and happiness, thanks to this network of human solidarity.
Students: enthusiasm, participation and responsibility
A large number of students took part in the initiative, demonstrating strong awareness and sensitivity to the issue. “Donating blood is one of the most worthwhile things a person can do”, said Nicola, a second-year medical student and regular blood donor who shared his experience. “I started donating blood when I turned 18, following my father’s example—he’s also a regular donor. For a healthy young person, giving a small amount of blood hardly makes a difference, but it can be life-changing for someone who needs it. It’s a simple yet incredibly powerful gesture”.
A community united by the value of giving
Today’s meeting at Venice Lido marked another important milestone for UniCamillus, bringing together scientific knowledge, heartfelt testimonials, and genuine enthusiasm. Thanks to our collaboration with ADMO and AVIS, many UniCamillus students have taken the first step towards becoming informed donors. This small gesture carries enormous value: it offers hope and life to those facing serious illness. Donating is not only a health-related act, but also a human gesture that creates bonds, restores hope, and makes our society truly worthy of its name.