DURING the recent National Blood Donor Week, Red Cross encouraged people to donate blood.
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However, it was also a great time to also acknowledge those who have been dedicated to donation for decades.
George Smith has been giving blood since the 1970s and has donated 51 times.
The Muswellbrook resident’s long list of contributions was originally inspired by his late wife Judy Smith.
“My wife was a nurse and she was already giving blood so I decided to as well,” he told the Chronicle.
When Mrs Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer she was no longer able to donate, but Mr Smith has since kept the tradition.
“I feel good to know I’ve been able to help and, whenever I can, I give blood,” he said.
“We’re here to try to help people who are ill to get better.”
Together, Mr and Mrs Smith have saved more than 282 lives through their donations and Mr Smith plans to continue adding to that number.
Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s Donna Treseder commended Mr Smith and other donors on their willingness to lend a hand.
“It takes a lot of years of commitment to get to that level [like Mr Smith],” she said.
“The thing I admire about donors is they don’t know the details of where the blood will go but they come in trusting [Red Cross].
“It’s all for people they’re never going to meet.
“It could be used as early as the next day and the amount of people one can help with each donation can be quite a lot – every time you help at least three people.”
Mr Smith hopes to encourage people who may be undecided about giving blood to visit staff members at the Donormobile to discuss it.
“If [people] are hesitant at all, come on down and see what happens and do some good,” he said.
“The system here in Australia is very safe.
“Flu season and other things can stop regulars from donating so we need others to come in to cover the regulars.”
Another Muswellbrook resident, Heather Murphy, has also passed the 50 donations point.
The Red Cross Blood Donormobile will be back in Muswellbrook from Monday, October 20, to Thursday, October 23, at the Muswellbrook PCYC car park.
For more blood donation facts, or to book a donation session for October, visit www.donateblood.com.au or phone 131 495.
