An 88-year-old man from Marion County will reach a major milestone next week when he donates his 175th gallon of blood.
When local resident Charles “Charlie” Hamilton makes his next scheduled donation at the OneBlood Ocala donor center (1051 SW 1st Avenue) on Tuesday, August 16 at 2 p.m., he will rank as the center’s highest gallon-level blood donor.
According to OneBlood, Hamilton regularly gives platelets every two weeks which primarily goes to cancer patients within five days. In a press release, OneBlood stated that Hamilton “has impacted and literally saved countless lives over the years that he has been donating.”
Hospitals are in constant need of platelet donations. Marion County residents can click here to learn more about the importance of platelet donations.
Healthy people who are 16 years of age or older and weigh at least 110 pounds are generally able to donate blood. All OneBlood donors receive a wellness checkup consisting of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and a cholesterol screening, along with a surprise gift.
OneBlood is a nonprofit blood center that provides safe, available, and affordable blood to over 250 hospital partners and their patients throughout Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
For more information, please visit OneBlood’s website or call 1-888-936-6283.