Harry Cross of Quispamsis, N.B. made his 1000th donation last month. He began donating blood in the early 60s when a new clinic started at the Irving Oil Refinery. (submitted by Canadian Blood Services)
A Quispamsis man who has been donating blood since the early 1960s reached a major milestone during May.
Harry Cross made his 1000th donation on May 12th, 2020.
Cross says he began donating soon after starting his job at the Irving Oil Refinery when the wives of employees formed a blood donor clinic.
“So I made a donation on the way into work and I found that it didn’t hurt. It didn’t have any undesirable effects at all. And I thought, ‘well I can do this.’ At that time, we could only do it every three months I think it was,” Cross said.
As for donating during the pandemic, Cross says Canadian Blood Services made significant changes to keep people safe.
“They have made some pretty drastic changes in the layout of the clinic so you can keep your social distancing. If you are not a nurse taking the blood or a donor giving it, you don’t get in there,” Cross said.
Harry Cross is one of the many special donors who will be celebrated during National Blood Donor Week between June 8th and 14th.
People in good general health are asked to book and honour their appointment to help patients.
To book an appointment, download the GiveBlood app, call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book online at blood.ca.
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