Once more, the province of Alicante has demonstrated its strong community-based and charitable heart, as the area recorded nearly 38,300 blood donations so far in 2026. The impressive figure forms a vital part of the regional total, with the entire Community of Valencia reaching more than 106,700 donations since the start of the year.

Summer surges and first-time donors: How Alicante helps keep blood banks stocked

According to official health data released by the Regional Ministry of Health via the Transfusion Centre of the Valencian Community, or CTCV, local residents and holidaymakers across the Costa Blanca have played an important role in keeping hospital blood banks stocked during the busy summer period.

Mobile collection points across the coast

Since the launch of the annual summer blood drive on July 1, the province of Alicante alone has recorded an incredible 7,438 blood donations. Alicante has also led the region in plasma contributions over the summer months, accounting for 586 of the 1,275 total plasma donations collected across the autonomous community.

Crucially, the summer initiative has encouraged a wave of new donors to step forward. Of the 1,430 people who gave blood for the very first time in the region since July, 480 were first-time donors in Alicante.

Donate anywhere, with no interruption to your holiday

Maintaining steady blood supplies during July and August presents a persistent challenge for regional health authorities due to shifting holiday routines, travel, and high temperatures. To make donating as convenient as possible for both permanent residents and summer tourists, health officials established 200 special donation points across the region, with 80 located specifically within the province of Alicante.

These mobile units and temporary collection sites have been set up in popular coastal resorts, remote and idyllic inland villages, and busy tourist hubs across the Costa Blanca, ensuring people can donate anywhere without interrupting their summer break.

A continuing need for daily donations: Those interested can still help

Health authorities remind the public that hospital needs do not pause for the holidays. Blood reserves are continuously required for emergency surgical procedures, trauma care, cancer treatments, and chronic illnesses across local health centres. A single donation can save or improve the lives of up to three patients, and health officials urge anyone who meets the basic criteria, including being aged between 18 and 65, weighing more than 50 kilogrammes, and being in good general health, to visit a local donation point before the summer season draws to a close.

With this effort, the province of Alicante has shown once more that it is more than willing to step up and support vulnerable neighbours in need of pivotal supplies.

A small village in the interior of Alicante is taking an interesting approach to combating screen addiction in children: Fageca, a mountain village with only 100 residents, recently held a workshop for local children that involved using LEGO building block toys as a therapeutic and social tool.

Building real connections away from screens

The workshop, which took place over the weekend of August 15 and 16, brought together children between the ages of 7 and 12 at the local Casa de Cultura. There, the children participated in talks about the responsible use of technology and a variety of healthy lifestyle habits. Additionally, the children built their own models with LEGO pieces to represent ideas, emotions, and situations.

The science behind physical play and retention

The science lies in the manipulation of physical materials rather than words and images on screens. The children can better solidify concepts in their minds through association with tangible objects, improving both their understanding and their retention of the messages.

The initiative, under the name LEGO Serious Play workshops, was made possible by funding through the Alicante Provincial Council, and it is far from the first LEGO-based event in the province. Earlier this year, in April, the University of Alicante hosted the First LEGO League, another event based around the iconic toys that brought together participants of all ages, but especially children.

Expanding LEGO workshops across the region

Even in a village as small as Fageca, the impact of these mentally stimulating workshops is clear. Larger towns and cities in the province of Alicante could soon implement LEGO-based workshops, particularly for children and the elderly, who can work with the colourful bricks to foster cognitive stimulation, improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and socialise with other residents.

A small village making a big change

All in all, the workshop in the village of Fageca was a success, turning simple plastic bricks into powerful tools for mental agility and human connection. This 100-resident village has demonstrated how innovation in rural healthcare often lies in thinking outside the box, and offers an inspiring model for local communities across the Costa Blanca, proving that with a little imagination, even the smallest towns can build something truly special.

The Costa Blanca town of Denia recently concluded its eagerly awaited Moros y Cristianos festival in honour of Sant Roc, capping off weeks of vibrant history, spectacle, and music. While the festivities stretched across the month of August, the grand finale delivered a magnificent crescendo that left residents and visitors alike enchanted.

Spectacle on the streets for the Grand Gala Parade

The celebration reached its peak on August 15 with the iconic Gran Desfile de Gala, or Grand Gala Parade. Starting in the late afternoon, Denia’s central areas, including Calle La Vía, Calle Diana, and the tree-lined Marqués de Campo, were transformed into a dazzling showcase of colour and sound. The Christian and Moorish ranks unveiled their breathtaking boatos, showcasing elaborate floats, intricate choreography, and flashy historical costumes crafted over an entire year of preparation. As night fell, a brilliant fireworks display, or castillo de fuegos artificiales, illuminated the sky above Plaza Jaume I, drawing loud cheers from the thousands gathered along the route.

Gunpowder battles and sacred traditions

The iconic festival drew to a dramatic close on August 16. The morning opened with the thunderous Batalla de Arcabucería historical reenactment, where the air was filled with smoke and noise from Calle Foramur down to the historic Plaza del Consell, reenacting the fierce battle for control of the city. After a solemn midday Mass and the traditional theatrical performance of the Milagro de la Niebla (Miracle of the Fog), the evening shifted to a reverent religious procession honouring Sant Roc.

An emotional musical farewell: Another successful edition of Moros y Cristianos in Denia

At 10:00pm, the festival finally closed out with the Retreta and Disparo Final, or Retreat and Final Gunshot. Festival-goers joined together for a joyful final march back to the Plaza del Consell. The crowd united in a moving, heartfelt performance of “El Vell Montgó” and Denia’s anthem, a bittersweet melody that marked the official end of this year’s celebrations and closed another unforgettable chapter in the town’s rich cultural history.