Lincolnshire blood donors recognised for reaching 100th milestone
Dedicated blood donors from across Lincolnshire have been recognised for giving around 6,000 donations between them.
Some 62 donors were awarded for giving 75 donations and thirteen for reaching the 100th milestone, of which only one per cent of donors ever reach.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service says each blood donation could save the life of up to three people so the group could potentially have saved 18,000 lives.
Donors from Lincoln, Boston, Louth, Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Retford, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes were all honoured.
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The awards ceremony took place at The Lawn in Lincoln, on January 24 and the awards were presented by Sue Ormston, 65, from the city.
She became a donor as a teenager and reached 74 donations before having to stop in 2011 when diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mrs Ormston, who volunteers with charity, Early Presentation of Cancer Project said: "Without the generous donations from unknown blood donors, my mum, Mary, would have died when I was seven from a massive haemorrhage from a burst ulcer.
"Thanks to those wonderful donors my mum came home and lived to see her grandchildren before she died from cancer aged 64.
"My daughter Kathryn was diagnosed with terminal cancer when she went to her doctor for injections to go on her honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, and was initially given four weeks to live.
"Blood donations gave her enough strength to be given aggressive chemotherapy. Kathryn managed to keep going for an extra 16 months, married, and saw her first wedding anniversary.
"Blood donations can make a huge difference to the lives of so many. It is not difficult or painful to be a blood donor, it just takes some time, three or four times a year. Give a wonderful gift of life!"
Stewart McCarthy, 66, from Lincoln was recognised for reaching the 100 milestone after donating blood for 46 years.
He said: "When I first started, the Women's Voluntary Service in their green uniforms, would give you a cup of tea and the blood was carried away in containers like milk bottles.
"This is a great service kept alive by voluntary donations and once you start doing it you make a point of not missing an appointment.
"Giving blood is something everyone can do, it only takes less than an hour and you are giving something back to society."
Anyone wanting to donate for the first time should be aged between 17-65, weighing at least 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health.
People who have donated before, can start again up to their 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.
Upcoming sessions in Lincoln will be run at Lincoln Hospital Sports and Social Club, St Annes Road on February 25.
On March 13, sessions will also be held at the University of Lincoln in the Engine Shed.
Appointments can be booked by calling the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or via www.blood.co.uk
Click to see the full gallery from the Lincolnshire Blood Donor Awards.
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