North Karnataka lifesavers cross 100 blood donations, inspire many

Hubballi: As the world celebrates Blood Donor Day on Sunday, a handful of people from North Karnataka take pride in donating blood over 100 times. At a time when the number of donors remains relatively low in the region, these individuals have emerged as role models, inspiring others to participate in voluntary blood donation drives.

Their commitment is helping create greater awareness about the importance of regular blood donation and supporting patients in need.Basavanada Mahaswamiji, 54, seer of Sri Guru Basava Mahamane, Managundi, is donating blood for the 112th time on Sunday on account of World Blood Donor’s Day. He told TOI that a devotee motivated him to donate blood about 22 years ago. “We had visited our devotee Adikeshava’s house in Davanagere for a pooja.

During an interaction, he said he had donated blood 98 times and was motivated by his parents. We then understood the importance of blood donation and took it up.

We feel proud to help humankind,” he shared.Karabasappa Gondi, 36, a police constable in Akki Alur, has donated whole blood 17 times, single donor platelets (SDP) 181 times and white blood cells (WBC) once over the past 16 years. He has formed a blood donors’ group and organised 189 blood donation camps, collecting over 8,500 units of blood.

He also played a key role in arranging blood donation between two dogs to save others during health emergencies. He is said to be the first Karnataka police constable to donate blood 200 times.Sandeep Sabharwal, 56, a Hubballi-based startup co-founder, has donated blood 104 times, including whole blood 74 times and SDP 30 times. “I started donating blood in 1987-88. I experienced a divine moment when my 84-year-old mother received four units of A-negative blood within 5-6 hours in Mumbai in 2015.

My family shares this rare group. We feel joy whenever we donate,” he said.Raghavendra Benake, 48, a businessman, recalls what led him to donate blood regularly. “In college, I avoided a blood donation camp out of fear, but friends forced me to participate. Later, I saw a woman crying for blood for her son at a hospital. That moment changed me, and I began donating 3-4 times a year,” he said. He has donated blood 116 times, including 25 SDP donations since 1998-99.Anil Barangal, a private employee in Davanagere, said his journey began after a midnight request for blood in 1997. “A child needed blood and though we initially refused, we later rushed to the hospital and my brother donated. That incident convinced us about its importance,” he said. Anil has donated blood 109 times, including 12 SDP donations.