The 17th death anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was commemorated in Dallas with a community-focused blood donation drive. The Dr YSR Foundation organised the camp on September 26 at Coppell Emergency Medical Center (Coppell ER) in Coppell, Texas.
The six-hour programme, held from 10 am to 4 pm, saw several donors voluntarily come forward to donate blood. Organisers said the blood collected through the drive would support patients in need and could help save lives.
The organisers highlighted the importance of voluntary blood donation and referred to information from Carter BloodCare regarding the continuing need for donated blood. The initiative was also aimed at encouraging community participation in blood donation and other social-service activities.
Speaking on the occasion, one of the key organisers, Dr Rajendrapolu, said it was meaningful to remember YSR through a service-oriented initiative. He said the blood donation drive reflected the spirit of public service associated with YSR. Sudhakar Menakuru, another organiser, said the participation of a large number of donors was a reminder of the importance of carrying forward that spirit of service.
Representatives of Carter BloodCare, Aaron Devlin and Holly, along with Muhammad Shahid, Marketing Manager at Coppell ER, extended their support to the programme. The organisers expressed their special appreciation for their contribution to the blood donation drive.
The programme was led by Valluru Sivashankar Reddy, Nagarjuna Reddy Darukamalli, Subramanyam Reddy, R.B. Nagaraj Gopireddy, Veerashiva Reddy, Srikanth Reddy Jonnala, Chaitanya Reddy and Tarun Reddy, among others. Several community members also participated as voluntary blood donors, contributing to the success of the initiative.
Former NATA president Dr Korsapati Sridhar Reddy visited the blood donation camp and appreciated the organisers, donors, coordinators and volunteers for their efforts. He said participating in social-service activities in accordance with YSR’s ideals was a positive way of continuing his public-service legacy.
Krishna Reddy Koduru, USA YSRCP convener, said participating in service initiatives inspired by YSR’s ideals was a matter of pride. Another USA YSRCP convener, Shiva Annapareddy, said YSR’s public service remained an inspiration and that blood donation camps could help carry that spirit forward. Dallas YSRCP leader Subbarao Kondu also expressed his appreciation for participating in such community initiatives.
The programme was coordinated by Prasad Reddy Nagarapu, Srinivas Mukka, Yellareddy Chalamala, Bhaskar Reddy Gadikota, Nageshwar Reddy Vennapoosa and Shiva Shankar Reddy Pothan, among others.
The blood donation camp gave the 17th death anniversary commemoration a strong community-service dimension. By bringing together donors, organisers and volunteers, the programme turned a remembrance event into an initiative focused on supporting people who depend on donated blood.
