This incredible South African has been donating blood for 26 years… and is not stopping anytime soon!
Johannesburg, South Africa (10 July 2022) – Sometimes heroes don’t wear capes. They just donate much-needed blood regularly. Forty-five-year-old Elton May, a Senior Assistant Librarian at Joburg City Library, is one of hordes of South Africans who have donated the most.
May’s first donation was as an 18-year-old matriculant when the South African National Blood Service visited his school in 1996.
May says after being told the importance of donating blood, and how it helps people, that’s when he decided that donating blood is something he’d continue to do.
“I was curious and young, so I thought, let me just give it a try and see if I like it or not. It was a bit scary because it was a first-time experience,” he shares. “Surprisingly, it all went smoothly.”
He says this was the start of something that became a tradition for him. To date, he has donated 63 units of blood.
May joined the City of Joburg in 2002 as a volunteer at Noordgesig library after a brief stint in the army. Instead of sitting at home, he wanted to be involved in his community, which is how he landed the volunteer position. He later became a library assistant. This opened the door to his appointment to the Joburg library in 2012.
May describes donating blood as a painless process. “It’s a very easy and effortless process.”
He considers it part of his routine. He says he donates as often as he can, and in the past few years, he has donated six times a year.
“It’s just a small gesture from my side to help someone else out there. You never know who might need it. It’s my small civic duty to help people that I can.”
To get more people on board, May always tells his friends and family members that donating blood is not difficult. He is constantly encouraging his two teenage nieces to try and get them inspired to donate blood.
May is an introverted person who loves gaming. He is also an avid reader. Although he mostly keeps to himself, when it comes to motivating others to donate blood, there’s no stopping him. May’s “ultimate target” is 100 donations.
“For now, I’m taking it one donation at a time, and 100 is a personal milestone I’d like to reach.”
May says there are thousands of prospective blood donors among City employees.
“It’s a personal choice, but I encourage you to just try it once at least,” he urges.
South African National Blood Service
Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for donors to donate regularly. Donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks.
Every unit can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.
SANBS aims to collect 3000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system. This is the journey of 1 unit of donated blood.
There are many SANBS donation centres open to the public. To find the location nearest to you, click on our map. Or you may consider motivating your employer to host a blood drive at your offices for the convenience of all staff members.
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