Longstanding local donor quietly surpasses national milestone
At a Canadian Blood Services clinic in Nanaimo on July 14, an 88-year-old woman marked her 225th blood donation — a total that, according to records cited by the blood operator, now eclipses the previous female Guinness World Record of 209 donations.
The donor, who has given blood regularly since she was 17, said she had no idea at the time that the latest donation carried national significance. Staff at Canadian Blood Services in Nanaimo arranged to mark the day when they realised the milestone.
“I didn’t even know it was a Canadian record or a Nanaimo record. I had no idea,”
The donor described donation as a family tradition. She remembers accompanying her parents to clinics as a child and joining them at 17. In her early 20s she learned her blood type was particularly valuable: she is a universal donor. “O negative is the only blood they can give to somebody that’s had an accident and needs blood right away before you have time to find out their blood type,” she said.
Community impact and a quiet example
Canadian Blood Services issued a statement celebrating the achievement and urging others to consider donating. “We celebrate Mary Singer’s remarkable 225th donation, an incredible milestone that reflects her longstanding commitment to Canada’s Lifeline,” the organisation said. “We hope Mary’s incredible milestone inspires others…”
The donor, now 88, said she will continue to give as long as she is able and hopes her example will encourage others to support the blood supply.
- Local continuity: Donation began as a family activity and continued across decades.
- Clinical value: As an O negative donor she provides blood that can be used immediately in emergencies.
- Community message: Canadian Blood Services is using the milestone to promote donation and recruitment.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Donations by Nanaimo donor | 225 |
| Previous female record (Guinness) | 209 |
| Donor's age | 88 |
This kind of long-term giving can be especially important for regional services. On Vancouver Island and across British Columbia, the blood system relies on recurring donors to maintain safe and timely supplies for trauma care, surgeries and chronic conditions. Universal donors — those with O negative blood — are often in highest demand when patients arrive in emergency situations without a confirmed blood type.
What this means for Nanaimo and beyond
For Nanaimo residents the story is both a celebration and a reminder. The local clinic that hosted the donation marked the milestone, and Canadian Blood Services has highlighted the example as part of its wider recruitment messaging. The donor’s decision to carry on donating into her late 80s underlines the longevity of volunteer blood-giving and the role older donors can play where medically appropriate.
Beyond the personal milestone, the story may prompt questions among readers about how to donate, eligibility and the needs of the blood system. Canadian Blood Services manages donor eligibility and scheduling; people interested in donating are encouraged to contact the organisation or visit their website for the latest information on how to book appointments and which donors are most needed.
For now, Nanaimo’s newest record-holder remains modest about the attention. Her motivation, she said, has always been simple: giving back to help those in need. That steady, decades-long commitment to donation now stands as a record and a public prompt for others in the community to consider how they might contribute to Canada’s lifeline of blood products.
