THE Shwedagon Pagoda board of the trustees is calling on volunteers to donate blood at its group donation event on March 9, said U Win Kyaing, the secretary of the board.

“We are inviting anyone who wishes to donate blood as a meritorious deed at the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda,” he said. “It is a meritorious deed to give one’s own flesh and blood to a needy person on sacred ground.”

He said the pagoda’s staff as well as members of volunteer religious teams will donate blood, and pilgrims are welcome to join as well.

The blood will be collected by the Yangon-based National Blood Centre.

“We had more than 600 donors during our first mass blood donation last year and we hope to make it an annual event,” U Win Kyaing said, adding that potential donors should register with the board in person or by phone at least one day in advance.

“We request that people register in advance so we can have a list of donors but we will also accept donors who just happen to be visiting the pagoda on that day and who want to give blood,” he said.

He said the board of trustees will also welcome cash donations from people who come to the pagoda to give blood.