IT MIGHT not be everyone’s idea of a birthday celebration, but this York teacher has marked her 50th year by giving her 50th blood donation.

When she reached her mid-40s, Tang Hall Primary School teacher Fiona McCallion made it her mission to have made 50 donations by the time she turned 50, and she’s done it.

To celebrate, Miss McCallion received a certificate, a special pin and a thank you letter in the post from the Blood Donation Service and she hopes her story might even encourage other people to donate too.

She is certainly keen to spread the message at school where she has spoken to all the Key Stage 2 children about the importance of adults being able to give blood.

She said: “I think quite often children see adults as invincible, but I thought that if they saw their teacher doing something altruistic like this they would get the idea that it is important and that it can save a life.

“They might also take the message home.”

Miss McCallion said she started donating blood in her 20s when she worked in London for BT and has kept up the donations ever since.

She said: “There are donor sessions all over York and there is usually one a week somewhere in the city.

“To find out where is as easy as going on a website and finding out where your nearest one is.”

The act of giving blood means people can receive long-term treatment – as well as treatment in the case of emergency.

Go to blood.co.uk to find out more on blood donation and to find a venue list.