Fedez blood call spurs donation surge (4)

(ANSA) – ROME, OCT 9 – A call from rapper Fedez for people to
give more blood after doctors saved his life after stomach ulcer
haemorrhages has spurred a surge in Italian blood donations,
especially by young adults, Corriere della Sera newspaper
reported Monday.

   
About 100 people presented themselves at the Milan branch of
blood donation association AVIS Sunday, “about 10 times (the
number on) a normal Sunday”, said AVIS Lombardy President Oscar
Bianchi.

   
The effect of Fedez’s call upon leaving Milan’s Fatebenefratelli
Hospital Friday, which he relaunched on social media, “has been
shown also by the average age of the persons who came to donate,
between 18 and 35”, said Bianchi.

   
Fedez, who had live-saving pancreatic cancer surgery last year,
to which the ulcers were linked, said on Instagram: “I’m very
happy, there’s been a chain reaction that I didn’t expect, thank
you all”.

   
The 33-year-old spent eight days in the hospital after nearly
dying from massive blood loss caused by two ulcers.

   
“I will try in some way to shine the spotlight on this issue
because, without the donors, I would not be here today,” said
the singer outside the hospital, after receiving three blood
transfusions.

   
Fedez is one part of Italy’s premier showbiz power couple with
36-year-old influencer and businesswoman Chiara Ferragni.

   
He is a judge on X-Factor Italy. (ANSA).