As the world focuses on the World Cup final on July 20, a group of passionate footballers in Chengdu is expressing their love for the sport in a unique way.

On the evening of July 17, at Jinjiang Rende Football Theme Park in Chengdu, the 'Red Heart' Football Volunteer Service Team played its first friendly match since its establishment. Instead of tactical boards on the sidelines, there were educational displays about voluntary blood donation—they transformed the pitch into a public health classroom, promoting a different kind of 'passion' that can save lives.

A friendly match in progress.

The team consists of 18 staff members from the Chengdu Blood Center, who simultaneously serve as pioneers in blood donation, health advocates, and football enthusiasts. Collectively, they have donated more than 55,000 milliliters of blood. Five members have received the National Voluntary Blood Donation Contribution Award: team captain Wu Xiang (Gold Award, 8,100 ml), vice-captain Qin Sha (Silver Award, 7,600 ml), and Zhang Xiao, Li Wenjun, and Zhang Zuyue (Bronze Awards). The team spans the entire blood collection and supply chain, with members ranging in age from those born in 1998 to individuals aged 55.

A friendly match in progress.

The team originated as the 'Chengdu Blood Center Football Team', founded in 2018 and led by Wu Xiang, who has a professional football background. Over eight years, they participated five times in the Chengdu Municipal Health System Staff League and secured second place in the inaugural 'Health Cup'.

On July 13, the team was upgraded to a volunteer service unit and officially launched at the Blood Center's lecture hall. 'Now when we play football, we bring display boards, brochures, and educational materials.' said Wu Xiang. Gao Jialiang, Deputy Director of the center, stated that this initiative aims to create a new platform for public health outreach that people 'enjoy watching, listening to, and participating in'.

A friendly match in progress.

The friendly match on the evening of July 17 became a 'sideline science lesson'. Prior to the game, experts from Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital filmed a short promotional video on blood donation, which will be disseminated through new media to share medical knowledge. Wei Tingsen, team leader of the hospital's football squad, remarked, 'The atmosphere was warm, and the displays felt approachable.'

That day, vice-captain Qin Sha had just completed his 37th blood donation; with a bandage on his arm, he brought along a 'Menduner' plush mascot to cheer on the team, using a youth-friendly approach to promote blood donation.

A friendly match in progress.

This friendly match is only the beginning. The 'Red Heart' Public Welfare Football Invitational plans to engage healthcare institutions in Chengdu and gradually expand to various sectors. The team will also set up mobile educational booths at provincial and municipal league matches and university stadiums, organize friendly matches and group blood donation drives at government offices and industrial parks, and collaborate with communities to host fun football activities alongside free health screenings—fostering synergy between sports and public welfare.

As the night breeze swept across the pitch, the players bent down to pack up the display boards, loading the last one into their vehicle. On this summer night, a different kind of 'goal' echoed across the field.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】