By Mu Vitet
KOTA KINABALU: State-level Buvazoi Tavantang Kaamatan 2025 first runner-up Bryan Soo and two others took part in a charitable blood donation campaign.
Bryan, who represented Kota Kinabalu in the grand final, was joined by Mr Kaamatan Inanam winner Josue Kinol and Petley Peter from Likas.
They used their popularity within the Kadazandusun Murut Rungus community to promote blood donation.
With their support, the campaign aimed to encourage more people to take part in the event held at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital in conjunction with World Blood Donor Day.
The trio also visited patients in the wards to offer moral support before donating blood themselves.
“I feel that activities like this are really good because they allow us to help people, even save lives. So I hope there will be more activities like this,” said Bryan.
He added that the campaign gave him the opportunity to visit the hospital for the first time and donate blood.
“This is my second time donating. I feel not to sound like a hero but I feel like I’m making a contribution, just being able to help someone who really needs blood,” he said.
For Josue, it was also his first time visiting the hospital and donating blood.
“I feel very grateful to be able to carry out this charity work. We were invited by KPJ Hospital to do this kind of volunteer activity.
“These efforts are great to organise as they help people, especially those in need of blood,” he said.
Petley said their visit aimed to bring positive encouragement to patients to keep their spirits high.
“The value I gained today is this: whoever we are participants, agents, or even celebrities we should get more young people involved in social responsibility and community service.
“We can visit hospital patients and give them hope to fight their illness,” he said.
He added this is a great step forward to help young people develop more empathy toward the community.
“I hope more young people or NGOs will organise programmes like this in the future, whether for charity, the environment, or other areas,” he said.
The one-day campaign, themed “Once a blood donor, forever a lifesaver,” successfully collected 38 pints of blood to help replenish the Queen Elizabeth Hospital blood bank.
