SHE’S donated more than 78 pints of blood over the years and only stopped when she needed to have a life-saving blood transfusion herself.

Sylvia Chenery from Bearwood in Bournemouth, had to have three pints of blood following a hip operation in November last year.

At first the kind-hearted 61-year-old pensioner tried to refuse because she knew that under current regulations, people who have had a transfusion cannot be donors.

“I didn’t want to have it because I knew that it would mean I would no longer be able to give blood so I asked if I could just have iron tablets instead, but my doctor told me to accept it gracefully,” she said.

“He said, ‘You need it now. Think of all the people you’ve helped over the years’.”

Sylvia started to give blood during a trip to Poole with her sister more than 30 years ago.

“It just seemed like a good thing to do and after that it became a habit and I became a regular blood donor.

“My niece who sadly died from cancer last year, needed to have blood during her treatment and she used to joke that she may have had some of mine – so I guess you could say I have had some personal reminders of how important it is to give blood.”

After donating her 75th pint Sylvia was treated to a slap up meal and was presented with an award to mark her contribution.

“I’m quite a private person and I don’t think I have done anything particularly special but if it will encourage other people to become blood donors then it is worth it,” she added.

If you can support the Echo’s Mine’s A Pint campaign, just visit blood.co.uk or call the donor helpline 0300 123 23 23 quoting the Daily Echo’s campaign code Z76.