Stephen Johnson is a dedicated donor who volunteers his time – blood and plasma – every fortnight to help afford us this luxury.

“It’s like anything I do in life,” said Mr Johnson.

“If I make a commitment I stick to it.”

Early on Tuesday morning Mr Johnson stopped by the Orange Blood Donor Centre to make his 400^th donation.

“It’s an automatic thing in my head every two weeks,” he said.

“It’s part of my life.”

Mr Johnson has worked in Orange for three years, as a draftsman at the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Despite his aversion to seeing medical practices shown on television, he said the donation procedure is no trouble.

“Years ago I did two white cell donations at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney which both took five hours,” he said.

“This is nothing.”

White blood cells are used to fight infection following a bone marrow transplant.

During his donation at the Prince of Wales, Mr Johnson read the name C. Young on the specimen bag collecting his white cells, years later he saw a photograph of Australia’s third bone marrow transplant recipient, his name was C. Young.

“That was very special, to see the person I had helped,” he said.

Orange Blood Donor Centre will be closed for Anzac Day on Wednesday and is in need of extra donors to fill the gaps. 

For further information or to book visit www.donateblood.com.au