Negative optimism

Started a couple of months ago,the crew that has around 15 active members in the city caters to the less than one per cent population of the AB-ve group which is also seldom in store. “It goes back to the time when my sister needed blood and we had a great difficulty searching for a –ve group. However due to my less hemoglobin levels I could never donate blood earlier but the necessity was always felt. So after surfing through various websites,which are left unedited out of the 50 people registered I was able to track only 15,” adds Pandit who contacted and mailed them through the id.

Receiving calls from hospitals,companies and individuals the group is sorting its members with an area wise network to reach out to the earliest and has come to the rescue of serious cases in need. Donating blood and registering himself wherever possible it is for a social cause and as a result of a tragic incident that motivates Avinash Dandekar another member. “I donate only when there is a requirement so that such a rare group blood need not be disposed. I have donated several times after moving to the city two years ago and it feels immensely good after having known the worth of it,” adds Dandekar. Sunil Godbole on Friday went to Sahyadri Hospital to assist a cancer patient,his first donation after being a member. “Being rare I am not allowed to donate even at the centres so it is our motive to be instantly there whenever someone is in need,” he adds.

Planning to open a website with the database of the donors the group also has many youngsters fulfilling the criterion of the age limitations required. “It is in fact a family and we are looking forward to expand it with a number of initiative to make ourselves more discernible,” says Pandit,a medical professional herself.