Ketton man wants to donate 200 pints of blood by the time he's 90

When it comes to giving to a good cause, Leslie Rowley’s contribution is hard to beat.

The 80-year-old has given the gift of life by the armload, having supplied nearly 160 pints of blood for transfusions.

Leslie, who lives in Ketton, has O rhesus D negative blood (O-), which can be given to people with any of the four main blood groups.

This makes him an important donor and since giving his first pint 58 years ago he has helped countless people who have needed transfusions following injury or during surgery or illness.

“The blood service doesn’t tell me who has been helped but it does tell me where my donation is sent,” said Leslie.

“The last pint I gave went to the University College Hospital in London and previously my blood has been sent to St Bartholomew’s.”

Leslie’s blood is often given to baby units, where a single pint can help several babies.

“I was born blue and had to have many blood transfusions in my first three months,” said Leslie, who started life in King’s Cliffe before working in farming and local industries, such as Tarmac at Tallington.

He began giving blood in the 1960s and now donates four times a year. He'll reach 160 pints by the end of this year and aims to make it 200 pints when he is 90 years old.

"I always feel absolutely fine after giving blood," he said.

"I've never felt faint and it only takes a few minutes, then I have an orange juice and get on my way."

Leslie often takes along treats for the blood donor staff, who work long days on the mobile unit.

For his part, Leslie has been rewarded with a beautiful glassware plate and decanter for reaching the 75th and 100th pint milestones, as well as a coin engraved with a large '100 ' figure and the words 'In recognition of your amazing generosity'.

While Leslie's wife, Christine, is unable to give blood herself, she supports the blood donor campaign, which would like more people to sign up as regular and life-long donors.

"It is something very simple that save lives," said Christine.

"Most people, if they or someone in their family needed a blood transfusion, would want there to be blood available."

The majority of people can give blood if they are fit and healthy, weigh between 7st 12lbs (50kg) and 25st (158kg), if they are aged between 17 and 66 - although older people can donate if they have given blood before.

To get involved in becoming a blood donor visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website at www.blood.co.uk or the service on phone 0300 123 23 23.