Some of us have annoying habits: nail-biting, knuckle-cracking or pen-clicking. Paul Tomlin’s habit saves lives.

Every fortnight for decades, the 65-year-old has donated plasma, marking his 650th donation last Friday – making him the top donor in the country.

But the Auckland man became a donor almost by chance.

In 1974, when he was about 18, Tomlin got a job working with his uncle, a regular blood donor. He tagged along one day when his uncle was donating, and thought he “may as well give it go”. That first donation was the start of what would become a more than 45-year commitment.

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