A Belfast man has modestly spoken about how he has donated blood an incredible 660 times - saving the lives of almost 2,000 children in the process.
Colin Fell (82) first started giving blood when he was just 19, clocking up more than 600 donations over the course of more than 60 years.
According to the Northern Ireland Blood Tranfusion Service, every blood and platelet donation saves up to three lives, with the figures suggesting Colin’s donations may have saved 1,980 children - enough to fill around seven primary schools.
Upon making his first donation, Colin learned how his blood would be used to treat people in all sorts of emergencies; it can help people going through surgery, illnesses, cancer and childbirth. His eyes were opened to how so much good can come from one small act of giving blood.
Colin also learned that his donations are specifically used to treat babies.
The pensioner says he first decided to give blood in order to impress a work colleague.
“I worked in C&C in east Belfast at the time. The girls working there were all blood donors,” Colin said.
“I quite liked one of them, so to impress her, I decided to go give blood.”
When told his tremendous generosity has saved enough little lives to fill roughly seven primary schools, Colin says: “Think about those who need it, what it means to them and their families. What if it was your wee one that needed it?”
One of the young people who has benefited from blood transfusions here is three-year-old Aria Stevenson from Derry.
Aria has received five blood transfusions and six platelet transfusions, meaning up to 11 people have helped her fight Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a blood cancer.
Aria’s mum Gillian says her blood transfusions had a significant impact when she was undergoing intensive chemotherapy last Christmas.
“Around this time last year, she was starting her really intensive chemo. She was getting platelet transfusions every 2 or 3 weeks because the chemo was just eating her platelets up.
“Without the blood and platelet transfusions, Aria wouldn’t be here with us today. That’s what was keeping her alive.”
Barbara Mullin from the NIBTS urged the public to consider a blood and platelt donation in the lead up to Christmas.
“On behalf of all our staff and volunteers, we wish to say a huge thank you to the Stevenson family for sharing little Aria’s story and for their support for blood and platelet donation. We all wish Aria well in her continued health journey,” Barbara said.
“We also wish to say a huge thank you to Colin Fell for his remarkable generosity and dedication to blood and platelet donation.
“We encourage people across Northern Ireland to make their best ever New Year’s Resolution: become a lifesaving blood or platelet donor at your local donation session this Christmas or January.”