Donor milestones - Welsh Blood Service

A little thank you for doing what you do.

We want every single donation to feel special because we know the difference each donation can make to patients in need.

As a thank you for helping to save lives, this is how we recognise milestone donations.

After every donation

It’s not just about biscuits after you donate. Donors also receive a personalised thank you email celebrating your incredible contribution.

We also send text messages when your donation is issued to a hospital. It’s our way of showing you the direct impact of your donation, knowing you’re helping someone in need.

First-time donors

Around three per cent of the eligible population in Wales give blood.

To welcome you to our lifesaving team, you’ll receive a thank you letter and your first donor card and key fob after your first donation. This will help improve the registration process the next time you donate.

5th donation

One of the most difficult milestones to achieve is the 5th donation as very few people who make at least one donation reach this second, important milestone.

Our thanks to you is a new donor card and key fob.

10th donation

Donors who have made ten donations could have helped up to 30 patients in need as every single donation has the potential to save three lives.

Our thanks to you is a new donor card, key fob and 10th donation milestone pin badge.

25th donation

For whole blood donors, to reach 25 blood donations means committing around an entire day in our donation sessions and over two hours physically donating blood for patients in need.

Our thanks to you is a new donor card, key fob and 25th donation milestone pin badge.

50th donation

To reach 50 whole blood donations takes a minimum of 11 years for males and 16 years for females, but in reality, this milestone is likely to take much longer. For platelet donors, given an average donation takes around 90 minutes, to reach 50 donations means almost 25 hours on a donation chair to help patients in need.

Our thanks to you is a donor card, key fob, a 50th donation milestone pin badge, a donor award ceremony invite and a commemorative certificate.

75th donation

This milestone takes at least 20 years for males or 25 years for females to reach. As every donation can help up to three patients in need, this milestone could equal an incredible 225 patients have benefitted from the donations.

Our thanks to you is a donor card, key fob, a 75th donation milestone pin badge, a donor award ceremony invite, certificate and a commemorative award.

100th donation

The most prestigious milestone for our blood donors. For a blood donor to reach one hundred donations, it takes at least three decades and equates to potentially 300 patients saved. For platelet donors, this milestone equates to around 50 hours on a donation chair to help patients in need.

Our thanks to you is a donor card, key fob, a 100th donation milestone pin badge, a donor award ceremony invite, certificate and a commemorative award.

Donating platelets in Pontyclun

Donating platelets is similar to donating blood, but takes a little longer.

These donations are essential to stop bleeding and bruising, which makes them extremely useful for cancer patients to support their chemotherapy treatment.

Find out more

200th donation

For an apheresis donor to reach 200 units in the shortest time possible, it would mean travelling to our Talbot Green clinic every three weeks for a minimum of four years. As far as hours on beds are concerned, reaching 200 units of platelets would take around 100 hours donating.