Starting when he was 17 years old, the now 88-year-old Gord Leverington has donated blood 350 separate times, affecting over 1,000 lives through his selfless acts. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

selfless acts

‘Just wait until I hit 400:’ Qualicum man reaches milestone 350th blood donation

Dec 10, 2025 | 5:31 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — For over 70 years, Gord Leverington has rolled up his sleeve to give.

As he’s done dozens of times since moving to Qualicum Beach six years ago, Leverington strolled into the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Tuesday, Dec. 9, wearing his Canadian Blood Services cap dotted with milestone pins marking previous donations made across B.C.

Speaking with NanaimoNewsNOW prior to contributing his 350th blood donation, Leverington said he’s given more or less every 56 days for a vast majority of his life.

“I started at 17 when a good friend of mine was in a serious car crash. They were calling for blood through the Red Cross and I thought ‘hey, I’m that kind of guy’ so I went and donated and that got me interested and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

At the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, staff attach a very rare ‘350’ pin to Leverington’s hat, recognizing his achievement. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Staff at the clinic on Tuesday were beyond impressed with Leverington’s dedication.

As they clipped on his ‘350’ pin onto his hat, several staff noted they’d never seen the milestone before.

The 88-year-old Leverington immediately quipped, “just wait until I hit 400”.

He began donating through the Canadian Red Cross, registering around 300 contributions, before later donating through Canadian Blood Services.

Leverington said he initially kept count, but admits he lost track many years ago until his records from the Red Cross were amalgamated.

A former Sunshine Coast pulp mill worker, who also had a career working with the RCMP in Kelowna, Leverington said his experiences at work continued to spur his donations on.

“I worked different parts through the RCMP, ambulance system and fire department, and I’ve been to so many cases where they needed blood badly, and that got me really going. I’ll donate until I can’t do it anymore.”

He added everyone should donate if they’re able, noting it takes only an hour out of a day and can make a huge difference in people’s lives.

Leverington’s newly affixed ‘350’ pin, recognizing his milestone donation achievement. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Canadian Blood Services’ Patricia Willms called Leverington’s efforts over 70-plus years “an incredible legacy.”

She said depending on how blood units are broken down, upwards of three lives can be affected or saved as a result of one donation.

Adding it all up, it’s over 1,000 lives Leverington has directly helped.

“His journey of 350 donations began with the first one and everyone else’s life-saving journey can too,” Willms said. “He talks in his circles with family and colleagues, neighbours…and even today when he’s there people are going to be looking and understanding what type of commitment he’s making.”

Canadian Blood Services clinics are open over the holiday season, including a mobile clinic at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.

Willms is hopeful families will consider starting their own holiday traditions of giving blood together, hopefully being inspired by Leverington’s story.

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