Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

WHEN Heráclito Everson Biscaia Filho, a Brazilian expat living in Shenzhen, first donated blood at 18 in his home country, he had no idea that his blood type was rare.

It wasn’t until years later, at a blood donation center in Shenzhen, that staff told him he has Rh-negative blood — known locally as “panda blood” — a type so scarce it appears in just 0.3% of the Han Chinese population.

That discovery culminated yesterday in a remarkable act of dedication: his 100th blood donation in Shenzhen.

“It’s a privilege to be able to offer something of me to someone else,” the Brazilian, who prefers to be called Hera, told Shenzhen Daily.

For this special occasion, Hera chose to wear his prized possession: a jacket from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“While volunteering in Athens for the 2004 Olympics, I watched the Chinese team during the closing ceremony and was so inspired by their spirit that I decided I had to come to China for the 2008 Beijing Games,” he said. He bought the jacket years later, but it has become his symbolic uniform for important moments.

Hera, who moved to China in 2007, began donating blood in Shenzhen in 2013. With his rare AB Rh-negative blood type, he occasionally receives urgent calls from the blood center — often due to emergencies like car accidents or mothers giving birth.

Hera has turned blood donation into a lifestyle, donating platelets every two weeks.”

That sense of connection is central to his motivation. “I see this as a way to give back to Shenzhen,” he explained. “This city has given me safety, stability, and a wonderful quality of life. Donating blood is how I say thank you.”

Hera is not alone in his cause. Shenzhen has built a robust culture of blood donation, with millions of residents participating over the years.

The presence of his friend yesterday added a new dimension to Hera’s milestone. His American friend, who is a music teacher in the city and had never donated blood before, came to offer moral support and was inspired to begin his own journey of blood donation.

Hera hopes his story will inspire others — especially those with rare blood types — to step forward.