Many of us have given blood once or twice, but two Hendon Times readers were honoured recently for having given blood at least 75 times each.

Bruce Loton of Etchingham Park Road, Finchley, and Richard Baldwin of High Road, East Finchley, attended an award ceremony in the Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden.

Mr Baldwin said: "I gave blood for the first time in 1975 when I was 23. I thought that I would like to do something for the community. I have been giving blood four times a year ever since, and I hope to reach the 100 mark in four years' time."

The awards were presented at the ceremony, held late last month, by Mike Fogden, the chairman of the National Blood Service, who said: "We are celebrating the rare achievements of some wonderful people. The quiet heroes of our society who have given blood freely for the benefit of others. That is something really amazing."

With each blood donation potentially saving the lives of up to three people, each of the donors have, in theory, saved more than 200.

The awards have come at a timely moment, with winter traditionally being a challenging time for blood collection.

The demand for blood never relents, with 3,500 donors required to give blood every day in London and the south east.

The National Blood Service is constantly looking for new donors. For more information call its helpline on 0845 7711 711 or visit its web site at www.blood.co.uk

December 21, 2001 17:17