Blood ties strong in donor’s family

An Albany man has donated enough blood to save 825 lives — and it was a blood donation a few years ago that saved his.

Clive Lamond, a blood donor of 41 years, made his 275th donation on Thursday.

His efforts have inspired his family, including 20-year old daughter Emmanuelle who is coming up to her 12th donation.

Ms Lamond said she was incredibly proud of her father.

“I started donating blood because of my dad, because of his amazing effort,” she said. “I don’t think there’s enough young people donating blood, they should. I encourage everyone as soon as the turn 18 to consider donating.”

She said she hoped to donate as much as her father.

Mr Lamond’s first donation was at 18. He said it had always been a family affair.

“My mum’s brothers were injured and killed in the war. She started donating in the 1940s and when we were kids we were in the blood bank with her so that’s where I got started,” he said.

“When I first started, I would take the kids — all four kids when they were toddlers. Emmanuelle was always there eating the snacks.”

He said he felt it was important to give back to the community.

“Not everyone can donate blood so those that can should for those that can’t,” he said. “It saves lives.”

And that it did — his own life.

In May 2016, he ruptured his spleen.

“The blood donation saved my life,” he said. ‘After all those years of donating, it was my turn to be saved.

You never know when you are the one who needs it, or your family and it just so happened that I needed it.”

Red Cross Blood Service spokeswoman Louise Rowe awarded Mr Lamond for his latest milestone.

“Every blood donation can save up to three lives. That’s an amazing 825 lives Clive has improved, given hope to or saved,” she said.

“That makes him a true hero in our eyes and we are very thankful.”