by PAUL RAYNER

Two Boissevain residents have reached significant milestones in giving the gift of life.

Ken Patterson reached 100 donations, getting to the century mark on July 9 at the Canadian Blood Services Clinic in Brandon. Reaching this significant number started in the late 1940’s in a humble enough fashion.

“I suppose I started around the age of 18,” Patterson explained. “The blood donors clinic came to Boissevain and I started giving.”

He said he remembers the first clinic he attended in Boissevain being held in the basement of St. Paul’s United Church, and said at times they were held in the Town or Legion Halls. He continued giving faithfully over the years because it was needed and a reason that seems to be common with many donors.

“Giving blood always makes me feel good. I always felt better afterwards. It certainly was no hardship.”

Over the years, there were many changes in blood donation. For example, Patterson said at one time you could only give blood once every 12 weeks, and now it has cut down to every eight. As well, due to new and deadly diseases, there are more precautions.

“They’ve got lot more careful,” Patterson stated. “They are very careful about different diseases now. They won’t take from anyone. There are a stiff bunch of questions now.”

Patterson was not alone with his 100th donation. He said when it came time for the milestone, he was asked by Canadian Blood Services to bring some people along. His son Mike originally planned to be there, but due to schedule changes, was unable to make it. He did bring his son-in-law Dale Vincent. Patterson said he had been around for Vincent’s first donation around 30 years ago, and this one was the first one since.

As well, he was accompanied by Shirley Scott, who hit a milestone of her own. She arranged to go at the same time to make her 25th. She said she stated giving consistently about five years ago, around the same time her first husband, John Swart was ill and passed from cancer.

“It was always something I would think about,” Scott explained, “I had done it, but was inconsistent. I would say I’m pretty consistent now, unless I’m away or have a cold, which has happened a couple of times.”

“I do it because I feel it is something a person can give back to people in general. It’s easy to do and it helps people.”

Both Patterson and Scott give blood in Brandon. Patterson said the fact that he gave regularly while there were no clinics in Boissevain made it a scheduling problem when they resumed.

“I got into a rotation,” he said. “Now I feel a bit bad when they have the drives in Boissevain, but it throws you out of rotation. There were quite a few years when it wasn’t in Boissevain, and I gave a time or two in Deloraine years ago.”

Scott said she did donations in town a couple of times, but finds it easier and more comfortable to do it in the permanent facility in Brandon.

Patterson said he plans to continue giving blood for as long as he can. He is an overage donor – after 71 you have to have an annual physical to do so – which is in itself a fairly new development. He said the need continues.

“They are always short of blood,” Patterson stated. “It only takes an hour all told. It is not much of an effort to give blood.”

Scott too plans to continue. She said milestones like the 25th do not entire the donor’s mind, it is just something they do to help. She added it was almost a treat to go give blood because the staff treat people so well. Scott also feels it is something anyone who is able should give a thought to.

“Absolutely,” Scott said, “it does not take a whole lot of time and it really helps people. You get a little squeamish at first, but it is not difficult. If you possibly can, you should be there. It could be you needing it next.”