Polite Canada Logo
Search

Ardrossan Man Donates Blood for the 1,000th Time

Ardrossan Man Donates Blood for the 1,000th Time
Ross Woolsey making his 1,000th blood donation on Friday, Jan. 17. (Sherwood Park News)

On Friday, Jan. 17, at Canadian Blood Services in Edmonton, longtime donor Ross Woolsey was honoured for reaching an incredible milestone: His 1,000th blood donation. The achievement was celebrated with a cake-cutting ceremony, recognizing his decades of commitment to helping others.

Ross started donating blood in the mid-to-late 1970s while in his forties, inspired by his family’s strong belief in community service. For decades, he has made weekly trips from Ardrossan to Edmonton to donate, dedicating about three hours per visit, including travel time.

When Woolsey began donating blood, the process used to be managed by the Canadian Red Cross, which handled collections from 1946 until 1998, before Canadian Blood Services was established following a nationwide overhaul.

In recent years, Woolsey transitioned from making full blood donations to a process called apheresis. He notes that the experience feels much the same as regular blood donations and hasn’t caused any noticeable physical changes. While privacy laws now prevent donors from knowing the full impact of their contributions, Woolsey recalls one memorable case where his plasma helped save a newborn in critical need.

Canadian Blood Services congratulated Woolsey on his milestone donation, expressing hope that his dedication will inspire others to donate. Currently, around 230 new donors sign up each day across the country, but with the growing demand for blood and plasma, that number needs to double.

Source: Sherwood Park News