Half a bathtub’s worth of blood is how much Ballito’s Chris Oosthuizen has donated
Later this year he plans on hitting 200 pints, which represents a staggering 33.5 years of donating at every opportunity.
Even loadshedding could not prevent Ballito resident Chris Oosthuizen (67) from donating his 199th pint of lifesaving blood at the Ballito Library on Tuesday.
Forty-seven years on from his first donation at the age of 20 in 1975, Chris still tries to donate every 2 months, and has now donated more than half a bathtub of blood.
“Luckily my health is still good enough that they allow me to donate. I will continue to do so as long as I am able,” he said.
Later this year he plans on hitting 200 pints, which represents a staggering 33.5 years of donating at every opportunity.
Blood donations are allowed every 56 days, which equates to around 6 times a year depending on the availability of donation facilities.
“The South African National Blood Service hosts an event every year for those who reach a milestone that is a multiple of 50. They host a dinner and give you a small gift. I am not sure what it will be for reaching200.
“For the 150 donations event, there were only 6 of us, so it will be interesting to see how many attend one for 200.”
A financial accountant in Durban for most of his life, Chris retired to Ballito in 2019.
If you would like to donate blood, visit the Ballito Library on the second Tuesday of the month.
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