In Montpellier, we give blood at the Opéra Comédie en musique with a touch of magic and we taste delicious little dishes

Le prélèvement se fait sous les magnifiques lustres du hall de l’Opéra. Midi Libre – Dorian Cayuela

The big end-of-year blood drive is taking place until this Saturday, December 7 at the Opéra Comédie in a festive and friendly atmosphere.

The setting is majestic and the welcome friendly to receive as it should be, those who have made the trip to give their blood. For its big end-of-year collection, the French Blood Establishment, with the help of the Rotary Club of Montpellier, did everything it could to bring as many volunteers as possible to the Opéra Comédie.

And for the first day of collection this Friday, the turnout was most fruitful.

A festive and comforting atmosphere

It must be said that many volunteers, with their biggest smiles, try to convince passers-by on the Place de la Comédie. And the arrival is accompanied by music: Christmas choirs will be present on the forecourt this Saturday to motivate the simply hesitant and even the most recalcitrant.

The experience takes place in less than an hour. Once the steps of the Opera have been climbed, each donor is welcomed with care, with a little treat to support them. Bursts of laughter can be heard in the adjacent alcoves. This Friday, it is the magician Brice Depoortere who, with mischief and humor, manages to relax the most stressed before their passage to the collection under the immense chandeliers of the lobby of the Opera.

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Once the donation is finished, everyone will be able to enjoy a buffet prepared with love by the Rotary volunteers. “Especially since we are lucky to have a member who is a delicatessen and caterer who has concocted a few specialties”, we are told behind the counter filled with tempting victuals.

Magic and mentalism, choirs and gourmet snacks at the Opéra Comédie until this Saturday, December 7 in the evening

The big blood drive is organized over two days until this Saturday, December 7 from 11:30 p.m. to 6pm in the grand hall of the Opera Comedy.

To make this gesture a friendly moment, donors will be able to enjoy a warm welcome with festive entertainment. On the program: magic and mentalism and Christmas choirs. Not forgetting the snack which will be delicious.

The French Blood Establishment hopes to collect some 700 donations over these two days, which represent approximately 2,100 lives treated.

As a reminder, to give blood you must be between 18 and 70 years old, weigh more than 50 kg, be in good health and present an ID with a photo. It takes about 45 minutes, including a 10-minute blood collection.

During this Christmas period, “giving blood is offering a gift that is much more precious than all the objects in the world…”

During the previous edition in April, 656 volunteers for donation were welcomed over two days, including 128 donors who had crossed the threshold of donating for the first time out of the 557 collected.

&Agrave know that 1,000 blood donations are needed every day in Occitanie, including 200 donations in Hérault to meet the needs of patients.

A lot of young people

And this Friday, many young people have already come out to show their willingness to help their neighbors. Among them, Timothée, 26, who is not donating for the first time, arrived with his work colleagues. “Coming alone is not crazy, but in a group, it's nicer.”

Like Antoine, 23, a little tense while filling out the questionnaire. “It's a first for me, I admit that I'm a little apprehensive. My friend Pierre suggested it. We came together. We'll see…”, he explains a little feverishly before taking a drink.

But once in front of the buffet to eat, the young man has a huge smile on his face. “I'm proud to have done it. It didn't hurt, except for a little tingling when I got the injection”, he admits before enjoying the various dishes on offer. An experience that wasn't so unpleasant in the end. Hoping that many will take the plunge this Saturday to beat all generosity records.