Albury woman's 525th blood donation spans 60 countries
Olwen Steel reached her 525th blood donation after starting at age 17, inspired by her mother.
Olwen Steel donated her 525th unit of blood on Wednesday at Lifeblood Albury. Olwen Steel started donating two weeks after turning 17, following her mother's example, and has never stopped.
Steel has given blood across more than 60 countries, from Ireland (her favourite, because donors get Guinness afterwards) to Greece and Turkey. At Lifeblood Albury since 1987, she calls the staff her second family.
Steel says childhood travel with her military parents left her unafraid of needles. She tries to donate every fortnight.
By 2014 she had already given about 270 litres. Her blood type is B-positive, which she calls her life motto.
Lifeblood is calling for 15,000 plasma donations this month, as fewer than 1 per cent of Australians donate plasma despite 10 million more potentially being eligible.
- 525
- Total donations
- 60+
- Countries where she donated
- 17
- Age when she started
- 1987
- At Lifeblood Albury since
Why it mattersBlood donors like Steel are crucial to treating cancer, trauma, and bleeding disorders; few Australians give plasma despite huge need.
AustraliaAustralia's blood supply relies on repeat donors; current donation rates leave a shortfall that could worsen if more Australians don't step up.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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