Chermside resident Ryan McVeigh clocked up an impressive 400 blood, plasma, and platelet donations when he turned 40 last February 17, making him the youngest donor in Australia to reach this significant milestone.
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Ryan McVeigh, a paramedic and volunteer firefighter, first started donating at age 16 when that was the minimum eligible age under Red Cross guidelines, and has been donating regularly as a form of volunteering ever since.
He did not even realise he was approaching his 400th lifetime donation until Lifeblood informed him. Now Mr McVeigh hopes to one day reach 1,000 total donations.
Lifeblood, which is responsible for providing blood, blood products, and services to the Australian community, was celebrating Ryan’s achievement and encouraged others to follow his lead.
“The van came around to my high school and I was already very involved in volunteering, so I just took every opportunity do something good. It was only after donating for some time that I became very passionate and regular,” said Mr McVeigh.
Lifeblood spokesperson Liam Richardson praised him as an incredible example of someone making a meaningful difference to people who need blood and the loved ones who support them.
He added that because one whole blood or plasma donation can save up to three lives, Mr McVeigh has saved an astounding 1,200 lives over the years with his donations, dubbing him a real-life superhero.
Mr Richardson noted that every week, Lifeblood needs approximately 33,000 blood product donations across Australia to meet patient needs.
Whilst 400 donations is not feasible for most people, the key message is that every single donation counts and is appreciated. He expressed gratitude to donors who give the gift of life by visiting Lifeblood centres.
According to Lifeblood, blood and plasma donations help save the lives of people suffering from cancer, trauma injuries, chronic illnesses, and complications during childbirth. Plasma donations were in high demand, with plasma able to be used in 18 different life-sustaining medical treatments.
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To donate blood, you can book an appointment by calling 13 14 95, going online to lifeblood.com.au, or using the DonateBlood app. This applies whether you are a regular donor who hasn’t donated in a while, or you are considering donating for the first time.
The Chermside Lifeblood Donor Centre is open six days a week (Monday, Thursday and Friday from 7am-6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Saturday from 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) for whole blood donations.
Published 24-February-2024
