KATE NEWTON
Things are a little different when Napier man Laurie Jenkin donates blood now.
For one, the needles are a bit sharper than they were in 1956 and there's no longer the need for a local anaesthetic.
"So many people are frightened of the needle but there's nothing to be frightened of
nowadays, the technology has advanced so much."
His first donation, the one that led to his 150th yesterday and possibly 450 saved lives, was made at teachers' college in Christchurch.
If it wasn't for contracting malaria in the Solomon Islands in the 60s and having to take a break from donating for five years, he would have reached 150 earlier, he said yesterday.
Mr Jenkin, who is 72 and a retired teacher, intends to keep donating until he reaches 75 and has "another retirement".
"Blood is life," he said at the World Blood Donor celebration at the Napier rooms.
" It's a tremendous privilege to be able to give my blood to help someone else, so that someone else can have a chance at life.
"There's also a spiritual aspect. I'm a Christian and I believe Jesus died on the cross and gave his blood so I could have life. Now I'm returning it.
"I would encourage everyone who is able to donate to do it."
Just 4 per cent of the population eligible to donate blood do so.
* The Napier branch of The Blood Service celebrated World Blood Donor Day earlier than the rest of the world because they are not open for the official day today.
