Two Donors with 1,200 Combined Donations Share More Than Century Club Connection

Ned H. has been donating for more than 60 years, back to when his mom volunteered at his high school's blood drive in east-central Arizona and he made his first whole blood donation. Now he's one of the first Vitalant donors in Colorado to hit 800 donations.

"When I finish here, I feel great. I'm doing something important," Ned said. "I plan on continuing doing it as long as you all will let me."

Vitalant's Denver West donation center has several Century Club (100+) donors, including Deano G., who has made more than 400 donations. Deano moved his donation appointment so he could be part of the celebration for Ned.

Making a Connection

Deano started donating about 20 years after Ned, but they got acquainted at the donation center in recent years and discovered they had much more in common.

"He's a baseball fan like I am; we talked and it came across we're from the same town in Miami, Arizona," Deano said. (Miami, Arizona's current population is an estimated 1,511.)

Between the two donors, they've made 1,219 donations so far. It's a habit that neither intends to break anytime soon. 
 
"You know that somebody's life is going to be affected by what I am doing right now and that means a lot to me," Deano said. "This is one of the more meaningful things I do, to give back."

Deano enjoys getting the emails after each donation telling him his platelets have been shipped to a hospital.

"It kind of helps motivate you more, that you're going to help somebody," he said.

Ned said what keeps him going is the thought that he’s helping someone.

"I’ve apparently saved more than 800 people, which is awesome. It’s worth it for me to do it.”