SANBS honours local donors at Donor for Life Awards
Mr Leon de Villiers spent years to donate 300 units, saving up to 900 lives.
SECUNDA – Mr Leon de Villiers from Standerton was the star of the Teksa branch of the South African National Blood Services’ Donor for Life Awards on Friday, 18 May.
He was honoured at this prestigious annual event hosted in the Graceland Arena for having donated 300 units of blood. He said afterwards he was very moved by the award and that donating blood is something very personal to him.
The average person is allowed to donate blood every 56 days. One unit of blood can help three people. Mr De Villiers spent years to donate 300 units, thus saving up to 900 lives. He received the Karl Landsteiner golden award for his contribution.
Mr Dieter Uken, the Master of Ceremonies, the entertainer for the evening and also the guest speaker, applauded the donors for the difference they make in the lives of people they do not know.
Mr Uken survived a brain tumour, surgery and chemotherapy and is quick to state that blood donations helped to save his life. He revealed on Friday night that he has again been diagnosed with cancer and will probably have to go for chemo.
Other donors who stood out for their years of giving, were Messrs Detlev Hoffmann and Dolf Nagel for donating 225 units each and Matthys du Plessis and Michael Macrae for donating 200 units each.
