CITY of Kalamunda fire inspector Theo Bekkers (74) finished off 2017 by giving his 600th blood donation.
The Lower Chittering resident said it was his mother who made him give blood for the first time in 1964.
“My mother lived in Northam and was a volunteer with the Red Cross and they had a bus come up every few months,” he said.
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READ NOW“She would organise the list and the appointments for when the Red Cross arrived.
“It was very primitive in the ‘60s, they would keep the blood donations in bottles.
“I was only able to give whole blood four times a year.
“I then started giving plasma, which took forever. It had to be separated, and was a long process, taking about three hours at a time.”
Mr Bekkers has given blood in London and the United States and encouraged others to take the time to help those in need.
“There is a greater need to give blood and every donation saves three lives,” he said.