‘Not a big deal,’ says Laurier employee logging his 70th blood donation

Ted Collins doesn't see his achievement as anything special, but today he's making his 70th blood donation at the Canadian Blood Services' Bridgeport Street clinic in Waterloo.

According to Collins, he's been a regular blood donor since 2005, inspired by his father and uncle who were also regular blood donors back in the day. He mostly thinks of it as giving a little back to the community.

“As I said, I book it in advance, so when it comes up in my calendar, it's just something else that I have to do today,” he said.

“I'm not squeamish; it doesn't bother me. I don't really like to look at the needle going in, and most of the time I don't. Although sometimes I force myself to do it just to make sure I can handle it, but I don't feel much different afterwards.”

Collins works as the coordinator of game day operations at Wilfrid Laurier's Department of Athletics and Recreation. Each year the university makes a pledge of blood donations as part of its commitment to the Canadian Blood Services' Partner for Life program, which Collin also contributes to.

They pledged 350 donations for 2020, and have exceeded that number with 425 units of blood donated from the members of the Laurier community.