Just two per cent of the population keep the nation’s blood stocks afloat by donating regularly, NHSBT said.
Andrew Bruce, 58, a fire safety adviser from West Auckland in County Durham, is a super donors who donates blood, stem cells, plasma and platelets.
He said he was almost at his 99th donation and that even though stem cell donation was painful he would “definitely do it again”.
“It’s a few hours of pain to give someone the chance of life or to extend their life,” he said.
Plasma donations, used to create immunoglobulin medicines, only take about 30 to 40 minutes and Mr Bruce said the experience was not “unpleasant”.
“It’s really easy to do and there is a real need out there for more donors.” he added.