Started by offering to a friend’s father, 46-year-old Pradeep Pillai donates blood for the 71st time

Kottakkal: Compassion seems to flow through the veins of Pradeep Pillai. On Thursday morning, when the 46-year-old completed his 71st blood donation at the blood bank of Aster MIMS Hospital, Kottakkal, it marked yet another milestone in his lifelong commitment to the belief that blood donation is the noblest gift. Pradeep, a native of Padinjakkara and currently working as an Office Support Assistant at the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala’s Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, has made this message a guiding principle of his life.

Pradeep recalls that his first experience donating blood was during his college days while studying for his degree at the Kottakkal Co-operative College. A friend’s father urgently needed B-positive blood. “I realised that was my blood group too, so I thought, why not donate?” he said. He promptly went to the hospital in Perinthalmanna and made the donation.

The feeling that he had been able to help someone gave him immense joy.

Having learned that blood can be safely donated every three months, he remained ready to help whenever someone was in need. He began recording these moments of joy in a personal diary. As long as he was healthy and not on any medication, he continued to donate regularly. If there was no direct recipient, he would donate to blood banks at hospitals. He later became a member of Blood Donors Kerala and now, provided there are no health issues, donates up to four times a year—something Pradeep shares with pride.

B Positive

‘B Positive’ is not just Pradeep Pillai’s blood group, but also his outlook on life. A believer in cheerful interactions and both physical and mental wellness, Pradeep is also a marathon runner. He is a member of the Kottakkal Runners Club and secured second place in the 71 km Munnar Ultra Run. He won a prize in the All India Challenge in 2021 and has participated twice in the Mumbai Marathon. He has also competed in the Lonavala Ultra Marathon in Pune, and marathons held in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. This November, he has been selected to run in the Adani Marathon in Ahmedabad.

Pradeep is married to Deepthi. They have two children—Arundhati and Abhimanyu.