MS Dhoni’s 45th birthday is set to be marked with a major social initiative in Hyderabad, where fan club Telugu MSDians is organizing a large-scale blood donation drive at the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank. Organizers say preparations have been made to accommodate around 500 blood donors, making it one of the biggest birthday celebrations planned by Dhoni fans in the city.
The initiative has been led by Praveen Balusu, founder of the fan club and vice president at an IT firm, who said the group wanted to do something more meaningful for Dhoni’s milestone birthday.
Fan Club Organises Large Blood Donation Campaign
Praveen Balusu said the club has been involved in charitable activities every year on Dhoni’s birthday, including work in orphanages. For Dhoni’s 45th birthday, however, the group decided to undertake a larger public service effort.
“This year is Dhoni’s 45th birthday. I wanted to do something special. Film actors Chiranjeevi sir and his son Ram Charan sir do a lot of social work. They are iconic and inspirational people, so I decided to approach their blood bank.”
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Blood Bank Prepares for 500 Donors
Ravanam Swami Naidu, COO of the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank, said extensive arrangements have been made for the event.
“We have ensured that we are prepared for about 500 blood donors.”
According to Naidu, blood donation facilities will operate on both the ground floor and first floor of the building. The programme will be supervised by Dr Madhavi Raj, Chief Medical Officer and sister of actor Chiranjeevi.
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Who Can Donate Blood?
Naidu explained that donors must meet eligibility requirements set under official guidelines.
- Age between 18 and 60 years.
- Weight above 50 kilograms.
- Medical screening, including haemoglobin testing.
- Review of medical history, medications, and past surgeries.
“We follow the guidelines given by the Drug Control Department. If the donor is not fit, we will reject the blood donation.”
Call for More Community Blood Drives
Naidu said Hyderabad and several parts of rural Telangana continue to face blood shortages, particularly during emergencies.
“Many times, people meet with accidents or heart attacks, and women delivering babies face blood shortages in many hospitals… they come to us for blood, and we try to provide it. We save the lives of 20 to 30 people every day.”
He encouraged citizens and organizations to conduct blood donation camps during the birthdays of inspirational figures.
“Everyone healthy should definitely donate blood every three months…”
How Praveen Became a Dhoni Devotee
Praveen said his admiration for Dhoni began in Visakhapatnam after watching the cricketer score 148 against Pakistan.
“I fell in love with him instantly.”
He said Dhoni’s leadership and conduct resonated with the values he learned from his parents.
Inspired by Dhoni’s World Cup Success
Dhoni’s achievements, including leading India to the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup, inspired Praveen to write a book titled “A dawn in the lawn” in 2012.
“I wrote that book out of passion, not for anything else.”
Praveen said he wanted readers to understand the physical and mental challenges faced by professional athletes.
“The only see the fame and name… But they don’t know how hard it is to play physically and mentally. I feel bad about that.”
Club Leaders Praise Dhoni’s Legacy
SSB Sanjay, vice president of the fan club, compared Dhoni’s impact on Indian cricket with Kapil Dev’s 1983 achievement.
“If Kapil Dev ensured in 1983 that the Indian team was not just there in the World Cups to participate by winning the trophy, and Dhoni during his captaincy tenure made India a champion side.”
A House Filled With Dhoni Memories
Praveen later met Dhoni during a match in Visakhapatnam and obtained his autograph, which he says deepened his admiration for the former India captain.
“I have to follow the principles as a devotee, and I learned leadership skills from him.”
His daughter has been named Rudhira Mahi, and his home contains multiple Dhoni memorabilia, including cutouts, replicas of IPL trophies, the Champions Trophy, and World Cup trophies.
First Official Dhoni Fan Club, Says Founder
Praveen said the fan club received official recognition on June 26 last year after completing registration formalities. The club currently has 13 officially registered members.
“It is the first official fan club of Dhoni.”
Other Social Initiatives
Beyond the blood donation drive, Telugu MSDians has also arranged food distribution for municipal workers who clean roads in the morning.
“They clean our roads before we go to the office…and if they don’t do it, we start falling ill, and that was the idea behind it.”
Sanjay added that the club, through coordination with the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) and the TG20 league, has also planted seven plants.
Conclusion
What began as a fan club celebration has evolved into a major public service initiative. By combining MS Dhoni’s 45th birthday with a blood donation campaign expected to involve 500 donors, Telugu MSDians aims to turn admiration for the former India captain into a community-driven effort that could help address blood shortages across Hyderabad and rural Telangana.
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