Collective Kindness: when families are committed to saving lives through blood donation

In 29-year-old, George Town resident Shaikh Shamsudeen’s mind is lodged a memory that time cannot bleed away. Back in 2016, that memorable day arrived unbidden, and when it ended, a desire Shamsudeen had nursed for years had been fulfilled; the desire to follow in his father Shaikh Sadaqathullah’s footsteps as a selfless blood donor. New College has always had a strong culture of blood donation, supporting government hospitals particularly Royapettah GH. And on that day ten years ago, an urgent request for AB Negative blood rolled into the open doors of Shamsudeen’s classroom in New College; it was required for someone undergoing treatment at Cancer Institute. In a fraction of a second, Shamsudeen’s hand went up.