STORY: Faces of China: man persists in voluntary blood donation for 26 years
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 24-26, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 0:03:57
LOCATION: XIAMEN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Wang Zhongwu donating blood
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association

STORYLINE:

50-year-old Wang Zhongwu in Xiamen, China is widely known for his dedication to blood donation.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
"I started donating blood voluntarily back in 1998, and I've done it over 180 times as of now. Over more than 20 years, my donations could help save around 600 to 700 lives.
Sometimes when I come home and open the drawer, seeing all those closely packed certificates for my voluntary blood donations, a sense of pride just wells up inside me. I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but through donating blood, I can make myself someone extraordinary."

In May 1998, Wang donated blood for the first time, driven by curiosity and a passion for martial arts stories.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
"At that time, I went to donate blood mostly out of curiosity. I was already in my twenties but I didn't know my own blood type. Plus, I've always enjoyed reading martial arts novels since I was a kid, and I was deeply influenced by the heroic deeds of the characters. Later, I thought to myself, by donating my healthy blood, I could help people in need, maybe saving their lives, which is also an act of heroism."

Initially, Wang's family and friends were opposed to his blood donation, believing it might hurt his health. But after trying it, Wang found that instead of making him sick, it actually helped him develop a healthy lifestyle.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
"To ensure that my blood meets the standards every time I donate, I make sure that I do exercise daily, follow a strict schedule, and maintain a very healthy diet. That's why almost every time, my blood is eligible for donation."

Inspired by Wang, his wife, daughter, and some friends also started to donate blood voluntarily.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
"Now, my wife and daughter also insist on donating blood twice a year. When my daughter turned 18, she chose to participate in voluntary blood donation to mark her coming of age.
Many friends around me have started to donate blood voluntarily. Our volunteer association also established a voluntary blood donation team, and it has made a significant contribution over the past year or two."

Over the years, Wang said he has gained a lot from participating in blood donation, and he's especially grateful for it. 

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): WANG ZHONGWU, Founding President of Xiamen Siming District Urban Volunteer Association
"Every time after donating blood, I'd receive a message from the blood center saying something like, 'Your donation was successful, and your blood has been transferred to a certain hospital to help patients in need.' Each time I see this message, I feel a great sense of fulfillment, knowing that I might have saved a person's life. I will spread awareness so that more people learn about voluntary blood donation, and encourage more to become voluntary blood donors. This is what I hope for."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xiamen, China.
(XHTV)