HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-06-21, Page 6Page 6 June 21, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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Seaforth farmer honoured for 50 blood donations
Hank Van Dieten, giving blood since 1979, recognized by Canadian Blood Services
Ben Forrest
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Seaforth-area farmer Hank Van
Dieten was humble but forthcoming
last week when asked about a
recent honour bestowed on him by
Canadian Blood Services (CBS).
Van Dieten, a 48 -year-old cash
cropper and poultry farmer, was rec-
ognized not long ago by CBS for his
long-standing commitment as a
blood donor.
He was recognized for having
donated blood 50 times since he
came to Canada in 1979.
"It's maybe not a big deal," he said
near theend of an ' interview. "A lot
of people could be doing this, and
any clinic I've been at, either
Mitchell or Clinton or Seaforth, you
see a lot of familiar faces that are
always there so I'm sure there are a
lot of people getting close to (50),
maybe even more."
The majority of Van Dieten's 50
donations have come in the past
decade. He has donated three to
four times per annum in the past 10
years, he says. But he has a history
of blood donation that stretches
back twice that long.
Hank Van Dieten
He was in his 20s and serving in
the Dutch army when he first
offered his rare type A -negative
fluid for medical use.
"It's something you can do for
free," he said. "It's a good
cause, basically. It's some-
thing that didn't take a
whole lot of effort to do."
Pain is not an issue,
he said: "You hardly feel it."
Van Dieten's wife
Martha and two oldest sons,
Derek and Garrett, are also
blood donors, and donation
is often a family affair when
the boys are home from
school.
"It's not a big deal,"
Van Dieten said, referenc-
ing the process of drawing
blood this time, rather than
the certificate he received
for his 50 donations. "You're
out for an hour, hour and a
half. You fit it into your
schedule."
Many, however, sim-
ply don't make the effort.
Van Dieten is quick to point
to " phone captains who con-
tribute to strong turnouts at
local clinics by notifying locals of
their existence.
But he also cites a CBS pamphlet
as saying; "only about three and a
half per cent of eligible Canadians
donate blood, yet the hospital
demand for blood and blood prod-
ucts continues to rise."
CBS says 130 people came out to
the most recent Seaforth clinic, held
June 5.
That number is "exceptional,"
says CBS recruitment coordinator
Erin Brydon. ,She added that
"Seaforth donors have always been
a�.great support of the blood pro-
gram."
Brydon encouraged more donors
to come out, however, and said there
is a particular need at the moment
for type 0 -negative blood.
The next clinic to be held in
Seaforth will take place at the com-
munity centre on Monday, Aug. 7
from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hank Van Dieten plans to be
there, and plans to continue to keep
giving as long as he's able.
"It's a good cause," he says. "If you
can help somebody by giving your
blood, why not?"
For information on who is eligible
to donate, and on clinic dates in
other communities, visit www blood-
services.ca.
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