At a square near Yongzhou Vocational Technical College in Hunan province, a mobile blood donation vehicle is surrounded by students ready to donate their blood to a 7-year-old girl who has thalassemia, a hereditary disease resulting in mild to severe anemia.

Li Qinghui, a sophomore majoring in nursing, rolled up his sleeve to give his blood. As the needle pierced his vein, crimson blood flowed through transparent tubing into the storage bag — each drop carrying hope for life. This specially designated blood donation would become vital nourishment for Xinxin, a 7-year-old girl battling severe thalassemia.

Across campus, 24 student volunteers like Li have been mobilized for Xinxin, who should have been enjoying carefree childhood play, but has been shackled by this blood disorder since 2020.

Her parents embarked on an exhaustive medical journey across Guangzhou in Guangdong province and Changsha in Hunan province looking for a stem cell transplant match. To survive, the girl requires two 400-milliliter blood transfusions monthly, her tiny arms bearing constellations of needle marks that silently testify to her fight for life.

Post COVID-19 blood shortages at Yongzhou Central Blood Station exacerbated her crisis, with daily collections meeting only 70 percent of clinical demand.

"Thalassemia patients account for 10 percent of long-term blood recipients," explained Tang Wei, director of blood collection at the center. Each delayed transfusion leaves Xinxin dizzy and weak, and is potentially life-threatening.

The turning point came on Dec 15 last year when Xinxin's family approached volunteers from the college's "Red Bond" blood donation service team in Lingling district. Launched in March 2023 by Tang Xinyu, a faculty member at the university, the team has 530 members and conducts weekly free blood donation promotion.

Following home visits and cross-departmental coordination, the college issued an urgent campus-wide appeal.

Within 24 hours, 24 qualified volunteers averaging 19 years old were mobilized, with the goal of helping Xinxin conquer the disease.

Among them stood Tang Junjie, 19, an intelligent equipment major who received 1,600 milliliters of lifesaving blood during emergency surgery.

"Blood donors gave me a second life at 17. Donating at 18 became my coming-of-age ritual," he said.

For Xinxin's mother, these students became "lifesavers who restored our hope".

The blood from the 24 donors can sustain Xinxin's needs for a whole year.

The "Red Bond" team plans ongoing recruitment to sustain this "never-ending relay of compassion".

Xinxin recently drew smiling faces on a thank-you note: "Big brothers and sisters, your blood sings in my body." Her childlike words amplify the warmth radiating from this campus, where youthful idealism pulses with life-giving force, Tang said.

Contact the writers at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn