On Saturday, a 53-year-old man arrived here after cycling 13,000 kilometers through 12 states to raise awareness about blood donation.
Joydev Rout, a former employee of a jute mill in West Bengal, began his journey last October 1 from Kolkata with the goal of covering 25,000 kilometers and encouraging at least one member of every family to donate blood.
“Despite several efforts to promote voluntary blood donation, there is still a shortage of blood across the country. The issue can be resolved by having a regular blood donor in each family,” Rout said, whose expedition was organised by the Federation of Indian Blood Donor Organisations (FIBDO).
He has donated blood 43 times so far. Rout rides about 25-30 km daily while taking rest in schools or other places at night.