CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Every blood donation can potentially save up to three lives. So 300 donations could save 900 lives. It's something that has been accomplished by this year’s American Red Cross Blood Services Hero.

Donating blood is a routine Gene Baran of Lancaster knows well.

“This is number 303,” he said during a recent donation at the Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center in Cheektowaga. “It’s AB positive blood, and it’s plasma.”

Baran’s journey to 300 plus donations didn’t quite start out as a mission to help others. It was 1970 and he was in the Army.

“They offered me 'hey if you donate blood we’ll let you sleep in your bunk for the rest of the day,' he recalled. “I said this is a good deal.”

That was the first shot down. 

Donation number two came as a civilian working for the New York State Department of Transportation, which held a blood drive. He didn’t foresee himself hitting milestones, just helping out where he could. It was only after he got to 10 gallons that he started to think he might be on to something.

“I saw no reason to stop,” said Baran. “There was really no reason to stop. It was easy to do for me, and it helps people out. And it just became a way of life.”

You can only donate whole blood six times a year but you can donate plasma every 28 days, which Baran started doing in 2016. His AB positive blood can only be used by about 3% of people. The plasma donations take longer but can be used for a wider range of people in need.

“It helps burn victims, cancer patients,” he said.

In May, Baran hit his most recent milestone — 300 donations. That translates to 37.5 gallons and countless lives saved. Baran doesn’t think too much about the time investment he’s made over the years. He’s retired now but still keeps up his donation schedule.

“Like anything else in life you need to have a desire to want to do something,” he said. “You can make time for anything if you think it’s important.”

That’s why Gene Baran is your 2021 American Red Cross Blood Services Hero.