Up to 1,800 lives have been jointly saved by Hertfordshire residents who have given blood up to 100 times.
Donors from Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring were thanked for their commitment and loyalty with crystal awards at an NHS ceremony in January.
The event featured Chas and Dave drummer Simon Cooper as guest speaker, who first received blood during a liver transplant. He later required a further 10 pints of blood, six platelets and four units of plasma during a lung transplant operation.
Carole Ross, 68, of Boxmoor received an award for giving blood 75 times.
She said: “People often do not think about blood donations until they find themselves in great distress.
“It is only when you need it that you think about all the people who have been giving blood for years. I like to think that I have helped someone to live.”
Guy Keen, 47, of Sawyers Way was recognised for his 100th donation. He started donating at the age of 20, when someone he knew needed 14 pints of blood after a car accident.
He said: “I am driven by my sense of duty – it is something I feel very strongly about as my contribution to society. I would encourage others to do it, because if everybody said no, there wouldn’t be any when you need it.”
Maureen Livingstone of Tring also received an award for her 100th donation.
The 71-year-old said: “I was motivated to register as a blood donor as I wanted to help people and help to save lives.
Hemel’s Adrian Howard, 49, and Roger Puddifoot, 62, also received awards for their 100th donation.
Other donors who received their 75th award include Robert Burridge, 69, and Martin Dewsnap, 54, both of Hemel Hempstead, and Jennifer Gee from Berkhamsted.
For more information on giving blood or to book, call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk