The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) recently celebrated a remarkable milestone as long-time donor Mark Hydes reached his 250th blood donation, marking over two decades of commitment to saving lives.

Mark began his blood donation journey more than 25 years ago, inspired by his mother, who was also a donor.

“She told me about how it saves people’s lives. That’s when I started as a youngster, just after finishing school,” he said.

In 2017, Mark transitioned from donating whole blood to platelets, a crucial component used in treating cancer patients and those with severe bleeding conditions.

@albertonrecordThe South African National Blood Service (SANBS) recently celebrated a remarkable milestone as long-time donor Mark Hydes reached his 250th blood donation, marking over two decades of commitment to saving lives. Mark began his blood donation journey more than 25 years ago, inspired by his mother, who was also a donor.

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“At the time, my uncle was suffering from cancer, and I saw the real need for platelets,” he explained. “Since then, I’ve been donating platelets almost every second week. I spend an hour and a half with the team and give my platelets to help save lives.”

SANBS donor recruiter Zanele Zweni commended Mark’s dedication, saying his milestone reflects not only consistency but also compassion.

“This milestone means a lot. It shows that people understand the importance of donating blood and value other people’s lives enough to take time out of their day to help someone they don’t even know,” Zweni said.

Zweni also emphasised that blood shortages remain a constant challenge.

“Unfortunately, there’s never enough blood. Even when our stocks are high, the demand is continuous. Around 28% of donated blood goes to women who lose blood during childbirth, while many cancer patients also depend on donations,” she noted.

She added that donating blood offers health benefits for donors and provides an opportunity to give back.

“Most people start donating because they’ve known someone who needed blood or want to make a difference after seeing how blood donations save lives,” Zweni said.

She also outlined the criteria for new donors: individuals must be at least 16 years old, weigh over 50 kilograms, be in good health, and maintain a safe lifestyle.

“It’s important to eat a solid meal before donating, especially for first-time donors, to sustain the process,” she advised.

While side effects such as light-headedness or nausea can occur among new donors, Zweni assured that SANBS has trained professionals, including nurses and phlebotomists, to ensure donor safety.

Mark’s continued dedication serves as a powerful reminder of how one individual’s consistent generosity can make a life-saving difference.

“Every drop counts, and heroes like Mark remind us of the incredible impact one person can have,” Zweni concluded.