By ALANA MITCHELSON
PAKENHAM resident Madeline Smith is celebrating 50 years of donating blood.
The 66-year-old has donated 171 times since age 16, and has been awarded bronze and silver medallions to recognise her 100th and 150th donation milestones.
In 50 years, Ms Smith has donated about 80 litres of blood that would have helped more than 500 people.
“It’s something I’ve always done. The Red Cross is always in need of donations,” she said.
“I’m not always in the financial position to donate money to as many charities as I would like to. Donating blood is something that doesn’t cost anything.
“It’s a painless procedure and there’s very little effort involved, and each donation has the potential to save three lives. It’s inspiring that such a little donation could have such an impact and mean so much to someone else.”
Ms Smith gave her 172nd donation at the Red Cross pop-up bloodbank at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, on Wednesday 10 August, the first time since last year.
She is close to achieving her 200th milestone, which comes with a gold medallion, but hip surgery excluded her from being eligible to give blood for six months.
“When you give blood you can also choose to give only platelets and plasma, and they can separate them from the red blood cells,” Ms Smith said.
“I decided to do that once and the Red Cross staff were able to tell me exactly where the platelets would be going.
“They told me the platelets would be given to a young father of two, named Patrick, who had cancer. That was special. It was a bit more personal because it made me really think about how my donation would be helping someone.”
Donors can give blood up to four times each year and Ms Smith plans to continue giving blood well into her seventies providing she maintains her health.
For more information, phone 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au
