US man donated over 110 litres of blood over four decades

New York: A man in the US donated nearly 110 litres of blood over 49 years helping 693 people, the New York Post reported, citing the New York Blood Center.

The 68-year-old Henry Bickoff, hailing from Long Island, who started the noble activity in 1975, reportedly told Post that ‘It’s something I've committed to, and it's actually nice to get a little bit of recognition for it.’

Henry Bickoff , eye care professional, donated equivalent of 870 single-serve ice cream scoops, 310 Coke cans or nearly six-gallon office water cooler bottles.

He made the first donation when in college and felt ‘very dizzy’ as he was not hydrated, fed or rested.

"Everybody was doing it. It was a save-the-world kind of situation of do something good for everybody," Bickoff was quoted as saying.

However, the dizziness from the first donation did not stop him from continuing it.

The optometrist added: "This may sound silly but I consider it my main act of charity. It's something I can do and it doesn't take a lot of time. I consider it multitasking - making blood cells while I'm doing everything else in my life. And it's just that hour every two months to go down to the blood center and donate."

Until five years ago he donated his B-negative blood type, which is high in demand, every 56 days. Now with age, he looks forward to "stretch it out a little bit."

Andrea Cefarelli , New York Blood Center's Senior Vice President, said that "Less than 1/2 a percent of the donor base have donated 20 gallons or more. The average person donates a couple of times in their lifetime."

While his wife donates blood sometimes, Bickoff’s daughter cannot donate because of a rare blood disease and his son is not interested in it.

Bickoff is qualified to hold the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the most whole-blood donations by a man if he applies for it, according to a GWR representative.