Ahmedabad:
He's a simple man to look at, with nothing to give away that he's been saviour to tens of people.
Amdavadi rickshaw puller Rohit Upadhyay will, on October 1, donate blood for the 100th time - making him the first rickshaw driver in the city to accomplish this record.
Upadhyay will join the club of centurion blood donors on the All India Voluntary Blood Donation Day this Friday, when he will make his 100th donation.
He will also be the 66th member of the Ahmedabad Red Cross Centurion Blood Donors' Club.
Ironically though, when this man had donated blood for the first time, it was because he wanted to commit suicide and he thought the donation would take his life!
"Due to certain family problems, I had wanted to take my life. I thought blood donation would actually lead me to death, and hence I donated blood. Later though, I realized that it had instead, saved a life. Since then, I have been a regular donor," says Upadhyay, who has done the city proud with his achievement.
Speaking about the rickshaw puller's endeavour, Mukesh Patel, president of Ahmedabad Red Cross, said, "Several rickshaw drivers from across the city will join in to celebrate Rohit's milestone, by donating blood themselves. As many as 3,200 rickshaw pullers will donate blood, at camps held at CNG stations on October 1, 2 and 3."
An innovative awareness campaign, along with this series of blood donation camps at gas stations, will be organised by Ahmedabad Red Cross with support from Adani gas Ltd.
"The event will also witness felicitation of 13 centurion blood donors, who completed 100 blood donations in the recent past," stated Mahesh Trivedi, Secretary of Ahmedabad Red Cross.
Trivedi added that the blood donation camps will be open for all. The one on October 1 will be held at Memnagar CNG station from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm, and at Maninagar CNG station from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The camp on October 2 will be held at the Sabarmati CNG station from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm, and at Vadaj CNG station from 4 pm to 7 pm. The camp on October 3 will be held at Memco CNG station from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm and at Sarkhej CNG station from 4 pm to 7 pm.