95-year-old honored for 100+ blood donations

TERRYVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) -- When you give blood, you may be saving a life. Monday, the Red Cross paid tribute to a man who's spent a lifetime helping others.

If giving blood was a sport Calvin Lyon would be a Hall of Famer, first ballot, no debate, no questions asked.

Monday, 95-year-old Lyon rolled up his sleeves to donate blood for the 111th time.

If that sounds impressive, it is.

Lyon is in the top two percent of blood donors in Connecticut.

For his efforts, the Red Cross saluted Lyon with a plaque.

However, the message they really want to get across is how important it is for the rest of us to follow his lead and donate blood.

The group says every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood.

Blood donations are critical to many people who are hospitalized. The short list includes transplant recipients, cancer patients and trauma victims.