THE selflessness of 27 locals, who together have helped hundreds of people they have never met, has been recognised as part of National Blood Donor Week.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service recognised the milestone donations of hundreds of people around the country during the awareness week between June 12 and 18, including 27 locals who regularly donate at the Fremantle centre.
One such donor was South Lake’s Coby McKay, who recently notched up her 200th donation, saving as many as 600 lives through the donation of more than 100 litres of blood and plasma.
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READ NOWMs McKay said she started donating blood in New Zealand in the ‘70s and hasn’t looked back since, despite a continued fear of needles.
“I keep on going back and you could say that I kind of got hooked, even though I still do not like needles,” she said.
“It feels good to know that your blood donation in whatever form, whether whole, plasma or platelets, is of benefit to so many people from tiny babies to the very elderly.
“I think a lot of people do not realise how many people do rely on the generous donations of the so few donors we have.
“No one knows down the track when you or family or friends will have to rely on a blood transfusion or other blood products and you never know if you are the one who is saving their life.”