Mario Fernandes turned 50 on October 14 this year. On the same day, he marked another milestone – his 100th blood donation. Mario has been donating blood since he turned 18 and plans to continue until the age of 65, the upper age limit.

“It is probably the simplest way to save a life,” says Mario, who runs the Goa Blood Donation Association, a vast network of prolific donors who also dedicate their time to coordinating between hospitals, blood banks and patients who require blood, or its components, like plasma and platelets.

“I now donate platelets, because there are fewer people willing to do so. Platelets can be given to anyone, irrespective of their blood group. And one can donate every 15 days,” says Mario, adding that a healthy adult can donate whole blood once in three months.

The reason many do not

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