AN INSPIRING Jersey man is urging Islanders to consider giving blood after giving his 100th pint and becoming the most prolific blood donor in his family, surpassing a remarkable tradition spanning three generations.
Karl Vallois reached the milestone in March, breaking the family record set by his grandmother and father, who each donated 72 pints.
But the 61-year-old from St Lawrence says he has no intention of stopping any time soon, having already given his 101st pint. He said he will keep donating until he is told he has to stop.
Mr Vallois credited his grandmother, Hilda Richmond, with inspiring him to become a blood donor.
He told the JEP: “It was my grandmother Hilda Richmond that inspired me to start giving blood. She was actually the first women to do 50 pints in the Island, and she went on to do 72 before she had to stop.
“She told me that a black car would come and pick her up to take her to the hospital to donate because they were desperate for the particular type of rare blood she had. I think it was type A negative.”
Blood donation soon became a family tradition.
His grandfather went on to donate more than 50 pints, while his father reached 72 pints.
He hopes his achievement will encourage more Islanders to roll up their sleeves.
Mr Vallois said: “It is definitely something people should do – for even just one pint, you could save a life.
“The day I actually reached the milestone, my wife decided to go and get congratulations chocolate for me. She went into a shop and the guy said, ‘You can have that for free’ because I could have saved his life, as he had recently been having blood transfusions himself.”
Health Minister Senator Tom Binet congratulated Mr Vallois on the achievement.
“I would like to thank Karl Vallois for his commitment to donating blood and congratulate him on meeting the 100th-pint milestone,” he said.
“By giving blood people increase local blood stocks that could save someone’s life.
“The service is always looking for individuals to give blood.”
