Málaga hosts a 12-hour blood donation marathon this Thursday

Málaga is dedicating this Thursday, 22 October, to blood donation with a 12-hour continuous campaign at City Hall. From 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, the Patio de Banderas will host the 18th Blood Donation Marathon, giving residents a full day to take part.

The initiative is jointly organised by Málaga City Council and the Málaga Blood, Tissue and Cell Transfusion Centre, which have been collaborating on the event since 2008.

This year’s target is to collect around 500 donations and help reinforce blood reserves used by public and private hospitals across the province.

When and where the blood donation marathon takes place

The event is being held on Thursday 22 October 2026.

Donations will take place at the Patio de Banderas at Málaga City Hall, in the Casona del Parque, located at 4 Avenida de Cervantes.

The opening hours are continuous:

9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

This gives people the chance to attend in the morning, afternoon or early evening.

Twelve uninterrupted hours of donation

One of the main features of the event is its extended schedule.

Donation and medical teams will remain operational for 12 consecutive hours.

The aim is to make participation easier for people with different work and personal commitments.

Those who cannot attend during the morning will still be able to donate later in the day.

Blood and plasma donation will both be available

The event is not limited to conventional whole-blood donation.

Participants will also be able to donate plasma.

The organisers have prepared 20 beds for blood donation and four dedicated plasma stations.

Providing both options increases the range of donations that can be collected during the day.

Bone marrow donor registration will also be available

People attending the marathon will also be able to receive information about and register as bone marrow donors.

One of the general requirements for joining the bone marrow donor register is being between 18 and 40 years old.

Bone marrow registration works differently from a standard blood donation, but the marathon will also serve as an information point for anyone interested.

A team of 26 professionals

A dedicated healthcare team has been organised to manage the expected number of donors.

A total of 26 professionals will be directly involved in donor care.

They include:

• 6 doctors
• 13 nurses
• 6 driver-orderlies

The event will also be supported by three mobile units.

Four areas to organise the process

The Patio de Banderas will be divided into several areas to help keep the process efficient.

There will be a reception area, a medical assessment area, a blood and plasma donation zone and a refreshment area for donors once the procedure is complete.

The layout is intended to keep waiting times manageable even during the busiest periods.

Free bus travel for donors

One of the most useful additions is the involvement of EMT Málaga, the municipal bus company.

People taking part in the blood donation marathon can receive two free journeys, covering the outbound and return trip, on 22 October.

The free travel will be managed through a personalised QR code.

The aim is to make the event easier to access for people who prefer not to drive into central Málaga.

How the free EMT ticket works

The EMT ticket includes two journeys valid during the day of the event.

This allows donors to travel to City Hall and return home afterwards without paying for the bus.

The municipal transport company has also promoted the campaign on onboard screens and bus shelters.

That means the message will also reach regular passengers who may not have known about the event beforehand.

Organisers hope to collect around 500 donations

The target for the day is approximately 500 donations during the 12-hour period.

That would provide a significant boost to provincial blood reserves.

The campaign is not linked to the needs of one hospital alone.

Blood is distributed according to demand across different healthcare centres.

More than 33,000 donations in Málaga so far this year

By 30 September, Málaga had recorded 33,465 blood donations in 2026.

These donations have helped maintain supplies for both public and private hospitals across the province.

However, demand continues throughout the year.

For that reason, blood transfusion centres organise special campaigns alongside their regular donation points.

Why blood is needed throughout the year

Blood has one important characteristic that makes regular donation essential: it cannot be stored indefinitely.

Different blood components have different shelf lives.

That means a large one-off campaign is not enough to meet demand for an entire year.

Hospitals need a steady flow of donations for operations, treatments, emergencies and other medical needs.

Hospitals need different blood groups

Another reason for maintaining a broad donor base is the variety of blood groups.

Not everyone is compatible with every recipient.

Keeping sufficient reserves across different blood types makes it easier to respond quickly when a specific transfusion is needed.

Transfusion centres must constantly balance available stock with hospital demand.

General requirements for giving blood

Under the usual Andalusian health guidelines, donors must meet several basic conditions.

These include:

• being between 18 and 65 years old in general;
• weighing more than 50 kilograms;
• being in good health;
• bringing a valid ID document.

Every donor also undergoes an individual medical assessment before giving blood.

A medical check is required before donation

Meeting the general conditions is not enough on its own.

Before donating, each person goes through a brief interview and medical check.

The purpose is to ensure that the donation is safe both for the donor and for the person who may eventually receive the blood.

Certain circumstances can mean that donation needs to be postponed temporarily.

Do not arrive on an empty stomach

One of the main recommendations is not to donate while fasting.

People attending in the morning can have breakfast beforehand as normal.

If donating after a main meal, it is advisable to leave some time before attending.

Good hydration is also recommended.

What to do after giving blood

Once the donation is complete, participants move to the refreshment area.

Drinking plenty of fluids is recommended during the following hours.

Strenuous physical activity should also be avoided immediately afterwards.

Health guidance also recommends avoiding alcohol and smoking for a period after donation.

Giving blood usually takes relatively little time

Although the marathon runs for 12 hours, the blood collection itself takes much less time.

A significant part of the process is registration, the medical check and the short recovery period afterwards.

This means many people can participate during a break in their day without having to set aside an entire morning or afternoon.

What happens to the blood afterwards?

Collected blood is not used exactly as it comes from the donation bag.

It is later processed and separated into different components.

Red blood cells, plasma and platelets can then be used for different patients depending on clinical need.

That means a single blood donation can potentially contribute to the treatment of more than one person.

Plasma has its own medical uses

Plasma donation differs from whole-blood donation.

Using a specific procedure, plasma is collected while other components can be returned to the donor.

Plasma is required for a range of treatments and medical procedures.

That is why the marathon has allocated four dedicated plasma donation stations.

Bone marrow registration adds another opportunity to help

The possibility of joining the bone marrow donor register adds another dimension to the event.

The aim is to increase both the number and diversity of potential donors.

For some patients with blood disorders, finding a compatible donor can be crucial.

Compatibility involves more than simply sharing the same blood group and can be difficult to find outside a patient’s family.

A partnership dating back to 2008

Málaga City Council and the Blood, Tissue and Cell Transfusion Centre have been organising this initiative since 2008.

It has since become a regular fixture in the city’s charitable calendar.

The only interruption came in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The 2026 event therefore marks the 18th edition.

The campaign also aims to attract first-time donors

The goal is not simply to collect blood during this one-day event.

Organisers also hope that people who have never donated before will take part and later become regular donors.

Maintaining a stable donor base is essential for meeting healthcare needs throughout the year.

Thousands of messages sent to encourage participation

The campaign has been promoted widely.

According to Málaga City Council, 2,056 letters and 6,920 emails have been sent to regular donors, volunteers and members of different organisations.

A further 12,500 mobile phone messages are planned, along with around 500 posters and circulars distributed in schools, secondary schools, pharmacies, health centres, religious brotherhoods, associations and public institutions.

Blood donation continues after the marathon

Anyone unable to attend the Patio de Banderas this Thursday will still have other opportunities to donate.

The Málaga Blood, Tissue and Cell Transfusion Centre maintains a permanent schedule at its main site and through mobile units.

The official Andalusian Health Service calendar also lists future collection sessions in municipalities including Marbella, Fuente de Piedra, Villanueva del Rosario, Casabermeja and Coín.

The transfusion centre operates throughout the week

The Málaga Blood, Tissue and Cell Transfusion Centre has regular donation opening hours.

Mobile units also visit towns, companies, schools and other locations.

This helps bring donation opportunities closer to communities across the province rather than concentrating everything in Málaga city.

Everything you need to know before going

The key details for anyone considering taking part are:

Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, non-stop
Location: Patio de Banderas, Málaga City Hall
Address: 4 Avenida de Cervantes
What can be donated: blood and plasma
Bone marrow: donor registration available
Transport: two free EMT journeys with a personalised QR code
Target: around 500 donations

Twelve hours to strengthen Málaga’s blood reserves

The 18th Blood Donation Marathon turns Málaga City Hall into a major donation centre for the entire day.

With 20 blood donation beds, four plasma stations, three mobile units and dozens of healthcare professionals, the event will operate from early morning until 9:00 pm.

With more than 33,000 donations already recorded in the province during 2026, the new campaign aims to ensure reserves remain available whenever hospitals need them.

Free EMT travel and the extended opening hours are intended to make donating as accessible as possible for anyone who wants to take part.