TWO people from Ellesmere Port are celebrating a lifetime of blood donation.

They were honoured for passing the 75 donations milestone at an awards ceremony hosted by the National Blood Service (NBS) at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Liverpool.

And the prolific donors were personally thanked by sickle cell sufferer Michelle Howard who would be not alive today if it were not for their generosity.

One of the Port’s two top donors was 58-year-old software developer Michael Rose.

He said: “I have been a blood donor for the last 38 years. I was persuaded by colleagues to give blood at a donation session at work.

“I have kept giving over the years as even after so many donations I still feel I have done something worthwhile each time I give.”

Joining Mr Rose in achieving his 75th donation was engineer Mike Kench, 67, from Whitby who has been donating for 40 years.

Shaun Almond, NBS North West communications officer said: “When you consider that you can only donate blood three times a year then reaching 75 donations is a real milestone.”

He added: “The National Blood Service has to collect 7,000 units of blood every day to meet demand. It is no exaggeration to say that over the years these two amazing individuals will have been responsible for saving countless lives.”

Anyone aged 17-60, weighing over 7st 12lbs (50 kg) and in good health could be a blood donor.

For information call 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk