Dee Henderson Donates Blood 125 Times

Dee Henderson Donates Blood 125 Times

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Dee Henderson reached a special milestone on June 14, 2021, when he donated blood for the 125th time during the Canadian Blood Services Clinic in Vegreville.

Dee said he started donating blood when he was 17-years-old. The first time he donated blood was in 1975 when he lived in Innisfail.

“I was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a first year paramedic for several years; so I knew the value and importance of the healthcare system needing whole blood on a continuous basis.

It was just a natural thing for me to want to donate blood even if I am afraid of needles, I still go and donate blood. I tried to give blood every time there was a blood donor clinic wherever I was living, but sometimes I couldn’t because they only had clinics during the day and I was working during the day.”

Dee said he continues to donate because he likes to help people, and if someday he needs blood; maybe he will receive his own blood. “My goal is to make the 125 times I donate blood into 200,” added Dee.

, Dee Henderson holds his special certificate of recognition outside of the Vegreville Social Centre on June 14 after his 125th donation.

Marissa Stryker, Territory Manager for Canadian Blood Services said it is a major accomplishment for someone to donate blood 125 times. “This type of accomplishment takes years to build up to. When you take into account that there is a deferral period between each appointment; for men it is 56 days and for women it is 84 days. To donate this many times shows clear dedication and passion for giving of their time and of course their blood for patients in need.

The highest someone has ever donated is 1,300 donations of blood and blood products which includes blood plasma which can be donated every seven days. But for whole blood donations, 125 is very high.

We welcome donors from all walks of life but people who belong to service clubs donate frequently,” Stryker added.