Yesterday at 7.30am, Michael Oliver was up bright and early to give his 300th donation to the New Zealand Blood Service.
To mark World Blood Donor Day, and to wrap up the end of National Blood Donor Week, staff at the Dunedin centre made Mr Oliver, one of the region’s most prolific blood and plasma donors, a cake to celebrate the day, as well as to mark his milestone.
Mr Oliver said he kept going back because it was just a small way he could support his community.
‘‘I think it's a really good thing, it's in such a small part of your day or your week, even if you only do it a couple of times a year, it'll make a difference ... and you'll probably help somebody along the way.’’
He donated for the first time when he was at secondary school. However, he did not become a regular donor until he was a student at the University of Otago.
He wandered past Dunedin Hospital — where blood donations used to be taken — and he saw a sign.
‘‘I read it and thought ‘Oh, yeah, I could do that’.’’
Only 4% of the New Zealand population donates blood.
‘‘Never have so many owed so much to so few.’’
Mr Oliver donates both blood and plasma.
Ms Burt said plasma was used to make 11 different vaccinations and medications, so the number of people Mr Oliver could have helped might be in the ‘‘thousands’’.
‘‘He's done amazing,’’ she said.
Celebrating Mr Oliver, as well as the many other donors was a way to say ‘‘thank you for their generosity in saving lives’’.
She hoped others might decide to ‘‘roll up their sleeves’’ and join the community of lifesavers.
