A WATCHET woman twice hit by personal tragedy has helped to save countless lives over the past 50 years by becoming one of the country’s longest-serving blood donors.

Cherry Woodford, 75, of West Bay Park, Watchet, received a special award at a NHS Donor Recognition Event, at Taunton Racecourse last Thursday (May 23) for donating 100 pints of blood to the NHS Blood and Transplant Service.

“I started giving blood when I was in my 20s,” Cherry said. “Someone I knew had died through lack of a blood transfusion and I felt it would be a valuable thing to do and apparently my group – A positive – is quite rare.

“I have been a donor three times a year ever since. There is a shortage of donors but the good news is that a lot of young people are coming to the service.

“My total is now 105 – and it’s wonderful to know that you can make a real difference to people’s lives, and in some cases help to save them.”

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