Willard Wendorff gave his first pint of blood nearly 60 years ago at a Red Cross blood drive at Cosmos High School. Last week, he donated his 200th pint, equivalent to 25 gallons.
Wendorff’s mother suggested his initial donation in 1964 to support the community. He decided to continue, eventually setting a goal of donating 25 gallons over time.
“Luckily I made it,” he said. “I’m 80 years old, how much longer can I donate?”
Wendorff consistently donates 1 pint of blood every four to five months, when his health allows. While he has never needed blood he continues, because he believes it can have a significant impact on many people.
“When he was getting closer (to the goal), we were all rooting for him to stay healthy,” Marion Fenske American Red Cross volunteer said.
During blood donation, the Red Cross checks hemoglobin levels, requesting people with low levels to return another time.
“I’ve been turned away a few times because my levels were too low.” Wendorff said. “My wife made me liver three times over the last two weeks, and it made a difference.”
According to the Red Cross, 200 pints of blood have the potential to save 600 lives.
“Think about all the lives he has impacted, with all those donations,” Fenske said.
Wendorff stressed the importance of regular donations, noting that each pint could potentially save three lives.
“If you’re healthy enough, why not?” he said. “It’s a small act — just a needle prick and it can help save someone. I would encourage people to donate considering the declining number of senior citizens who donate and young people are not filling that void.”
The Red Cross estimates that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets, with a daily need for 29,000 units of red blood cells.
Wendorff, showing no signs of slowing down, has an appointment scheduled for April.
“If I’m able to donate I will,” he said.
