As has been traditional, Blood Bank Fete will be held the same day as National Panorama semi-finals.
This year, the Friends of the Blood Bank Association's (FBBA) all-inclusive is on Sunday, at the Lion's Cultural Centre, Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook, from 2 pm to 9 pm and will feature music by Roy Cape All Stars, Blaxx, Ravi B & Karma, Imij & Co, Mayaro The Band, DJs Crosby and Alicia "The Duchess." In addition, David Rudder will make a special guest appearance.
The FBBA is a voluntary non-profit organisation which operates to facilitate the collection of blood from the general public. The association was incorporated in T&T in June 1972 as an approved charity, Over the 42 years that the Blood Bank has been in operation, the FBBA has contributed to the collection of blood, resulting in live-saving treatment for many and a significant improvement in the quality of life for others. Its establishment was a response to the then and still existing difficulty in obtaining blood for surgery and other treatments.
The mandate of the FBBA is to promote and collect blood donations and it seeks to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood for the nation's medical institutions by educating, recruiting, motivating and retaining voluntary blood donors.
Toward this end, the association conducts educational lectures at schools, businesses and organisations with the hope of informing the populace about voluntary blood donation and to encourage them to donate at any of the donation centers in T&T.
The FBBA is overseen by a board of directors, who are all volunteers, and meets at least once a month. It operates out of the Mc Donald Jorsling building at 160 Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain which also houses the Central Laboratories and Port-of-Spain donor centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service.
The FBBA also operates a mobile unit which visits companies, religious organisations and other community groups that organise blood drives.
The operations of the FBBA are funded primarily from the proceeds of the annual Carnival fund-raising fete, one of the original all-inclusive fetes, which started around 1974 at one of the then committee member's homes.
There will be well-stocked premium bars and a variety of food which committee members take pride to ensure never runs out.
MORE INFO
Tickets priced at $600 each are available from all SuperPharm outlets; Toppers (Grand Bazaar) Peter Elias (Westmall & Ellerslie Plaza); Flower Time (Duncan Village & Chaguanas); Flowers, 137 Tragarete Road, Woodbrook; and at the Blood Bank, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, 623�8204 and all committee members; or, e-mail: friendsofthebloodbank@gmail.com