Donate blood!
Just for the record, Thalassemia is a genetically inherited disease that affects millions of people worldwide, many of which have no clue until they are very ill or until they try to procreate. Greeks, French, Italians, Jews, Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis, and a great deal of other ethnic groups are affected by this hemoglobinopathy.
The genetic mutation seems to have resulted from nature's attempt to evolve the people of malaria-ridden zones to be more resilient to malaria. Needless to say, mother nature's plan backfired and instead I have inherited Thalassemia Minor (trait) from my father and have never really had to test the malaria theory myself...
Don't worry - the trait is not life threatening on its own and some lucky ones are completely asymptomatic but you have to live carefully, almost like a transient diabetic! So on the days that I look as lively as a hungover turtle, don't ask what is wrong unless I am unconscious. I always eventually recover.
I may be 'lucky' to have Thalassemia Minor but millions of others are not because they have Thalassemia Major or Intermedia which requires frequent blood tranfusions and iron chelation treatment. Life expectancy for these patients has increased over the last 20 years but it continues to claim the lives of thousands who can't receive proper treatment. The disease is also known as Cooley's Anemia or Mediterranean Anemia and depending on your language, see anemia vs. anaemia and thalassemia vs. thalassaemia.
If you don't have the disease, go donate blood. United Blood Services has reported dangerously low supplies of blood this week.
I have been thinking about doing a campus-wide Thalassemia awareness week. If you would like to know more about the disease, visit http://www.thalforum.com. I help moderate the Thalassemia Minor forum since nobody has a clue about it on this continent. If you would like to volunteer, drop me an email.