after donating 100 gallons of blood over the last
35 years.
Harold Mendenhall, 84, started giving blood on
July 7, 1977, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Last month, he reached 100 US gallons (83
imperial gallons or 666 pints).
Mr Mendenhall started giving blood when his
wife Frankie was diagnosed with chest cancer.
When she died seven years later, Mr Mendenhall
says he was lost.
He stopped by the blood bank on his way home
from work and was soon donating up to 40 pints
a year.
He said giving blood helped him cope with the
loss of his wife and, later, his two sons.
"For some reason, I'm still here and I'm
grateful," he said. "That's one of the reasons I
keep donating."
Mr Mendenhall is especially coveted because he
donates blood platelets – small cells in the blood
which help with clotting.
As well as saving the lives of others, there are
financial benefits for donors in Florida.
The local blood bank runs a reward programme,
offering coupons for meals at restaurants.
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