Catalonia's annual blood drive kicks off on Thursday with target of 10,000 donations

Catalonia's annual blood drive will begin on Thursday with the aim of reaching 10,000 donors.

Until January 18, people can donate blood at numerous collection points in 104 towns and cities.

The drive is held every year at the beginning of the year, as Christmas always brings a 20% drop in donations.

Some of the collection points will be located in iconic places such as the Palau de la Música, the Fabra i Coats industrial complex or the Born's Cultural Center in Barcelona.

On Saturday 11, iconic buildings such as the Tibidabo, the headquarters of the Catalan government, or the Glòries Tower will be lit up in red.

It is expected that more than 240,000 donations will be needed throughout the year for the more than 70,000 people hospitalized in Catalan hospitals.

The campaign was presented on Wednesday in Barcelona with the presence of all four mayors of the four Catalan capitals.

"Having an altruistic donation system like the one we have in Catalonia makes us strong as a society, but we need the effort of all of us to maintain it," said Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni.

A woman who has given blood 258 times, Teresa Orquín, hailed as a "superdonor," was also present at the press conference. She started donating blood at 18 years old and is now 64, meaning she has only six years left to continue donating. She urged young people to step up and donate blood.

"It hurts less than getting a tattoo, and many people get tattoos nowadays. Getting blood drawn from the arm is nothing. Everything takes place in a comfortable site; they give you a small snack afterward, and you leave knowing your blood pressure and red blood cells," she said. 

Of the total number of transfusions performed daily in Catalonia, the group that requires the most blood transfusions are those with tumors, accounting for 34% of all transfusions.

Those suffering from diseases of the digestive system are the second group that needs more blood, with 15% of all transfusions, followed by those with cardiovascular diseases, with 12%.

In the future, the chronic diseases associated with increased life expectancy will require more blood transfusions.

See all the sites where you can donate blood here.