DIMAPUR, Sept 12 � Donating blood 52 times in 20 years may sound unbelievable, especially if the person who has drained out so much blood remains hale and hearty.
But it is real. Thirty eight-year-old heavily-built Manoj Kumar Jain, weighing 98 kg and standing 5 feet 8 inches, did it in order to let other people live and is determined to donate more blood to the needy as long as his health permits.
According to Manoj, from Malwaripatti here, it was on his 18th birthday when he first donated his blood (AB+ group) voluntarily.
�My father used to tell me to donate blood for humanity. So I donated my blood for the first time in my life to mark my 18th birthday which is the right age�,� Manoj says.
Since then, he never failed to donate blood for the noble cause whenever there was a blood donation camp in Nagaland.
Earlier, he used to donate blood four times a year. However, ever since pains started developing in his veins in recent years, he reduced it to �only twice a year�.
Manoj, whose dream is to become a �Blood Donor Ambassador�, aims to create awareness, motivate local youth and the young generation to live a healthy life and save lives through voluntary blood donation.
�Voluntary blood donation is a priceless donation one can give to the needy people. I discourage illegal blood sellers. Let people live with my small donation,� he says. According to him, he has even donated his platelets for cancer patient at Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
Asked about his food habits, Manoj says he eats a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and rasgulla. �I am a pure vegetarian. I don�t drink, smoke or indulge in taking anything that�s hazardous to health,� says Manoj, a proud father of three children.
Born in a family of the oldest settlers in Dimapur, Manoj says he would like to dedicate his time doing social work despite his hefty works as a businessman. He is associated with many organizations and a hardcore Rotarian. He is also a life member of the Federation of Blood Donors Organization of India and Indian Society for Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology (ISBTI).
In recognition of his services to Indian Red Cross Society, Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar awarded him the �Certificate for Distinguished Works� on November 11, 2009. He also became the non-local resident of Dimapur to receive the Dimapur Municipal Council�s (DMC) �Young Achievers Award� for outstanding and dedicated service in the field of social work on February 19, 2010.
