A LOCAL man recently received an award at Dartington Hall for having made 100 blood donations.

Mike Dennis from Tavistock is urging others to donate blood this Christmas.

The award ceremony heard a first hand account of how one young woman had encountered complications at the time of the birth of her baby.

The blood she received saved her life so that her child has been able to grow up with both a father and a mother.

Mike said: ‘Donating blood is sharing part of your life with other people so that they can have a life.

‘An hour spent donating blood is very little when you consider all the good that comes out of it.

‘Every day 8,000 units of blood are needed to meet hospital demand. As Christmas approaches, the Blood and Transplant Service usually runs low on blood stocks. For those with an hour to spend before Christmas, do look out for local blood donation sessions.

‘There is one at the Tavistock Methodist Church on December 8. It could be the best present you give this year.’

l Mike is pictured below receiving his award.