When 67-year-old Timothy Kilpin donated blood for the first time 47 years ago, he was reluctant.
However, his colleague ushered him in at the donation pop-up and since then his love of helping others has driven him to donate 263 times and counting. He was recently given the award for recognition for his donations in the Durban South region.
“I gave my first donation in 1975 at work in Durban. One of my colleagues said ‘come in’ and I declined, but later when I was walking by the room again he just grabbed my wrists and told the blood staff that I was there to donate too. I just said ‘oh well’. And I just carried on from there,” said Kilpin.
Kilpin, who has now retired, said he was 20 when he made his first donation at work and was told he could return to donate in 36 days ‒ and so he did.
“I continued because it was pain free and it felt right. They had come back to my work place and every time I donated. When I left that company I found out where their offices were and continued donating. I also knew there was a shortage of blood, then and even now, so I wanted to do my part,” he said.
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