Harrogate blood donor celebrated for 100th donation

Jason Clements received a medal and certificate at a ceremony at Hazlewood Castle to honour his centenary contribution.

Jason, who has been donating blood for over 40 years, received a medal and certificate for reaching his 100th donation milestone.

The lifesaving efforts of 42 blood donors from the region, who had collectively made 5,950 donations, were honoured with commemorative medals.

Each blood donation can save the lives of up to three people meaning that if a donor has given blood 100 times, they have potentially helped save or improve the lives of up to 300 patients.

Out of the three per cent of the eligible population who give blood, just one per cent reaches 100 donations.

Guest speaker at the event, Roz Allen, 39 from Halifax, was blood recipient who told how blood donors saved her life.

Roz was at home recovering from a tonsillectomy she had two weeks earlier, and was feeling more or less healed, when she tasted blood in her mouth.

When she looked in the mirror, she realised that the scar had opened and she was quickly starting to lose a lot of blood.

Roz phoned herself an ambulance and was bleeding heavily until she had emergency surgery and received four units of blood to replace what she had lost.

She said: “This happened so suddenly, one minute I was reading and the next I was bleeding to death. Without blood donations, I would very probably have died that night.

"We assume if we need blood, it’s automatically there, but it is only there because people continue to donate it. Without the kindness of people donating blood, many would simply die.”

In general, as long as you are fit and healthy, weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you have given blood before) you should be able to give blood.

If you are over 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.

To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk