A cooperation protocol for the establishment of the Yıldız Güral Blood Collection Unit was signed between Gürok Group and the Turkish Red Crescent Kütahya Branch, in the presence of Esin Güral Argat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) and Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Gürok Group; Emin Yüce, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of KUTSO; Fatih Alkış, Member of the Board of Directors of KUTSO; and Semra Tozaraydın, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters and Member of the Board of Directors of KUTSO.

The signing ceremony was held at the Turkish Red Crescent Kütahya Branch, where the protocol was signed by Esin Güral Argat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KUTSO and Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Gürok Group, and Kazım İkbal Gümüş, Chairman of the Turkish Red Crescent Kütahya Branch.

Established through the donation of Gürok Group, the Yıldız Güral Blood Collection Unit will provide services from a centrally located facility in front of the Governor’s Office building in Kütahya city centre, with a capacity of four donation beds. As the second blood collection unit operated by the Turkish Red Crescent in Kütahya, the centre is expected to enhance public awareness of blood donation and contribute to increasing the number of voluntary blood donors.

Following the signing ceremony, Esin Güral Argat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KUTSO and Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Gürok Group, emphasised the importance of supporting projects that add lasting value to Kütahya. She stated that the partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent would make a significant contribution to raising public awareness of blood donation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Esin Güral Argat said:

“We regard serving Kütahya and supporting projects that strengthen our city as both a responsibility and a privilege. The Turkish Red Crescent is an invaluable institution that fulfils vital humanitarian missions across our country. It is therefore a great honour for us to collaborate on such a meaningful initiative.

The fact that this centre will bear the name of my mother, Yıldız Güral, holds a very special significance and fills us with immense pride. Throughout her life, she embraced compassion, generosity and serving others as inseparable principles. Seeing her name associated with a project that will help save lives is deeply meaningful to us. I believe this initiative will create a lasting legacy both for our family and for our city.

The culture of volunteering and charitable giving is one of the strongest foundations of social solidarity. Blood donation represents one of the purest forms of helping another human being, enabling someone to hold on to life without expecting anything in return. I sincerely hope that the Yıldız Güral Blood Collection Unit, which will begin operating under this protocol, will strengthen awareness of blood donation in our city and, thanks to its central location, encourage greater participation from donors.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our Governor, our Mayor, Semra Tozaraydın, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters and Member of the Board of Directors of KUTSO, Kazım İkbal Gümüş, Chairman of the Turkish Red Crescent Kütahya Branch, and the entire Turkish Red Crescent Kütahya Branch for their invaluable support in making this meaningful cooperation possible.”

Semra Tozaraydın, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters and Member of the Board of Directors of KUTSO, stated:

“Today, the Turkish Red Crescent operates 18 Regional Blood Centres, 68 Blood Donation Centres, and collects approximately 9,000 units of blood every day at an average of 350 different locations across Türkiye, meeting the demand for blood and blood components of 1,140 hospitals nationwide.

The Yıldız Güral Blood Collection Unit, inaugurated today, aims to collect 7,800 units of blood annually, significantly increasing Kütahya’s blood donation capacity. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Gürok Group for its valuable contribution to bringing this important investment to life, and I respectfully commemorate the late Yıldız Güral with gratitude and remembrance.

Let us remember that one unit of blood can give hope to three lives. Regular blood donation is one of the most valuable expressions of solidarity and has the power to save lives. I warmly invite everyone to become regular blood donors and thank you all for your participation.”

Source: KUTSO Press Office