Penza, 20 April 2016. PenzaNews. Over 500 students of Penza universities have arranged themselves into a figure of a beating heart to raise public awareness of National Donor Day commemorated in Russia on Wednesday, April 20.

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Their campaign “Artery of Life: From Heart To Heart” took place on the square by the Penza Philharmonic Hall.

According to Tatyana Krylova, chief medical officer of the regional blood transfusion station, donating blood has been growing in popularity as of recently, with 15,000 donors in the region, including 3,600 distinguished donors.

“We appreciate them very much, as they can come to help us at any time,” Tatyana Krylova pointed out.

As the blood transfusion station CMO explained, when citizens actively donate blood, the main issue is to prepare blood components of a high quality to minimize the reject volume.

“We are happy to see the large numbers of young men and women who come to our station and participate in campaigns we held in other locations. That means they follow healthy lifestyle, as only a healthy man can be a donor,” she stressed.

Tatyana Krylova expressed her hope that the Penza campaign will find support in Saratov, Ulyanovsk and other cities of the Volga region.