Service praises woman who is a real lifesaver

8:20am Monday 25th August 2008

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A BLOOD donor from Northwich has marked a milestone by celebrating a lifetime of donations.

Joyce Bellis, 58, from Castle marked her achievement of 75 blood donations at a recent National Blood Service (NBS) award ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool.

When you consider that you can only give blood three times a year, then reaching 75 donations is a real milestone.

Shaun Almond, communications officer for the National Blood Service

She was thanked by sickle cell sufferer Michelle Howard who would not be alive without the generosity of blood donors.

Retired office worker Joyce said she was prompted to start giving blood after undergoing four operations when she was eight years old.

“I realised that I may have needed a blood transfusion at some stage during the operations, so I decided when I was able to, I would donate blood,” she said.

“I have kept donating over the years as I have resolved that as long as I am able to give, I will keep doing so.”

Shaun Almond, communications officer for the blood service, said Joyce should be tremendously proud.

“When you consider that you can only give blood three times a year, then reaching 75 donations is a real milestone,” he said.

“In fact only one per cent of our blood donors reach such amazing heights of selfless generosity. It is no exaggeration to say that over the years, amazing people like Joyce have been responsible for saving countless lives.”

For more information on becoming a blood donor, or to make appointments, call 0845 7711711 or visit blood.co.uk.