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Ocala, Florida
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Charlie
Charlie Hamilton has been giving life to others longer than many of us have been alive. The 74 year-old Ocala man has literally saved thousands of lives by donating more than 125 gallons of blood.
To say Charlie is a committed blood donor may be an understatement. Almost every two weeks he donates platelets targeted for cancer patients. “That’s what I wonder what’s the big deal? I don’t know. I’m just doing my normal thing every two weeks,” said Charlie.
Charlie is one of the first donors to use an automated process to help save cancer patients. Since the 1970’s he’s been donating platelets regularly. “People have to have it and only a few people do it, so I just feel like I need to do it all the time.”
Frank Rios, a phlebotomist that has drawn blood from Charlie for thirteen years, said Charlie is like family to the blood bank staff. “What that man has done is ridiculous. You can’t imagine how many people he’s affected. It could be a football field full of people,” said Frank. “He just wants to keep doing it for as long as he can and that’s a question that a lot of people ask him, do you have a goal? I already know the answer to that question. He doesn’t have a goal he just wants to help as many as he can.”
Charlie’s daughter, Susan Hamilton, was shocked to find out how many lives her father has saved. “Wow that’s amazing, really amazing! I feel very proud. My father is a giving person, and it’s just one more way of him giving,” said Susan Hamilton.
Charlie says his donating days are far from over and hopes to keep giving as long as he can. “I hope to give another 50 gallons, as long as the good Lord lets me do it I’ll do it.”