An Ottawa man is celebrating a major — and very rare — milestone, making his 500th donation to Canadian Blood Services. You can find Bob McDougall sitting in a chair at the Canadian Blood Services donation centre on Carling Avenue every two weeks, donating plasma and platelets. “Kind of a mission at first, and then became a habit and continued on,” explained McDougall. He first rolled up his sleeves in 1974 by donating blood, and he did it to give back after his sister required hospitalizations and surgery. “I started because my sister had a heart condition and eventually had a heart transplant,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to be healthy over the years. So, it’s good to be able to pay back.” On Monday, that 500th milestone had officially been hit after decades of dedication. “It feels good,” said McDougall of marking 500 donations. “It’s a goal, you know? So, it’s a nice achievement to get to.” Sandy Renny is a volunteer at the donation centre. He says for years he’s seen McDougall come in on Mondays and make his regular donation. “He’s the first person I see when I walk in,” Renny said. “He’s doing it for a reason for beyond himself. And I think that’s what a lot of us do. We do it not for ourselves, but for the good of what it’s all about.” He says he didn’t even realize how high McDougall’s number had climbed. “I think it’s incredible,” he said. Ryan Adams is the director of development and recruitment at Canadian Blood Services. He says plasma and platelets help support those going through cancer treatments and long-term illnesses, and the need for continuing donations is great. “We’re seeing a massive rise. We’re expecting over the next five years a 50 per cent increase in the amount of plasma that Canadians will need,” he explained. “(McDougall is) in rarefied company right now. I think there’s about 500 Canadians who’ve hit that marker. So pretty, pretty special.” McDougall says he isn’t stopping now and he encourages others to donate. “As long as I stay healthy, I’m going to continue to give,” he said. “If you’re able to give, it’s a big deal, I think to do your part.”
