The Faculty of Economics helped donate 20 liters of blood to Cheb Hospital

Over 40 volunteers, including students, employees, and graduates of the Faculty of Economics and high schools in the region, brought the 60th edition of the Bucket of Academic Blood event to Cheb Hospital. In the 33 years since the event began, volunteers have donated more than 800 liters of blood.

Twenty liters that can help save a life. Among this year's donors at the anniversary edition of the Bucket of Academic Blood event, who gathered at Cheb Hospital on March 20, were not only current students of the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, but also its graduates. "I started donating back during the 2nd edition of the Bucket of Academic Blood, and I can say that I go regularly. It means a lot to me," explained Lenka Kudrhaltová, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics. Today, not only does she donate blood, but her two sons do as well.

In recent years, local high school students from Gymnázium Cheb, ISŠ Cheb a SZŠ a VOŠ Cheb have also been visiting the blood transfusion department. For some of them, this was their very first experience with donating blood. "I decided to donate blood because I want to help others throughout my life. It's a meaningful way to do something good," said Elen Nguyenová, a student at Cheb High School. "We wanted to involve more students from Cheb and show them that donating blood makes a difference. Every new donor is important," explained Libor Matoušek, a teacher at Cheb High School, regarding why they decided to join the FEK UWB initiative.

The faculty administration has long supported the Bucket of Academic Blood event by donating blood themselves. "It is important that the number of unpaid blood donors does not decline. We still cannot replace blood, which is why donating remains so essential," added Jan Tlučhoř, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics.

The tradition of the Bucket of Academic Blood dates back to 1993, when it began as part of a course at the Faculty of Economics. At the time, students organized a campaign designed to encourage their classmates to donate blood. Since then, the event has grown and brought hundreds of donors to the transfusion department. Together, they have donated more than 800 liters of blood over the past 33 years. The event has long brought together the university, high schools, and healthcare professionals, helping replenish blood supplies in the region.