Beatrice Janyk credits vitamins, 12 hours of sleep a day and a busy mind for allowing her to donate blood regularly for most of the last 70 years.

At 95, Canadian Blood Services says Janyk is the countrysa国际传媒檚 oldest blood donor.

The great-grandmother and Coquitlam, B.C., resident has been donating blood since the late 1940s and says she has no plans to stop.

sa国际传媒淵ou betcha, sa国际传媒榯ill Isa国际传媒檓 100. Isa国际传媒檒l be 96 in August,sa国际传媒� Janyk told reporters Wednesday before donating blood at a Canadian Blood Services centre in Vancouver, where she was recognized as Canadasa国际传媒檚 oldest blood donor.

Janyk has advocated for blood donation since her now-deceased husband Bill was injured in a sawmill accident in 1948 and nearly died from a hepatitis infection he later contracted from contaminated blood. Though she was forced to stop donating blood at age 71 in Canada due to an age restriction, Janyk continued in 2005 after it was lifted.

When she could no longer donate blood in Canada, Janyk rolled up her sleeve at the Bloodworks offices in Bellingham, Wash., and was awarded a celebratory pin for donating 20 gallons of blood. Canadian Blood Services says thatsa国际传媒檚 the equivalent of 170 donations in Canada.

Janyk, whose blood type is O-positive, says she takes no medications so her blood can be used for children and infant transfusions, adding that makes her incredibly proud.

sa国际传媒淚 hope Isa国际传媒檝e saved a baby, because I take no medication, but (take) seven vitamins every night.sa国际传媒�

Canadian Blood Services spokesman Marcelo Dominguez says Janyk is a paragon of the agency.

sa国际传媒淚t is an example we hope others will want to follow,sa国际传媒� he said, as Janyksa国际传媒檚 family surrounded her. sa国际传媒漌esa国际传媒檙e all very lucky to have you. Itsa国际传媒檚 the perfect time for our organization to say thank you to a donor like you, who has been giving blood and saving lives for decades.sa国际传媒�

Janyk says her secret to youth and happiness is going to bed early, getting up early, and keeping busy throughout the day. An avid cribbage player, Janyk says she doesnsa国际传媒檛 take naps and tries to keep busy with crochet, needlepoint and making rosaries.

Janyk says her proudest achievement is the family shesa国际传媒檚 created. Her son Barry Janyk, a former mayor of Gibsons, B.C., spoke glowingly of his mother.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 know why, but I think wesa国际传媒檙e more proud of her, because all I can say is if I was 95 and still giving blood, I think thatsa国际传媒檚 an accomplishment in anybodysa国际传媒檚 world.sa国际传媒�

Along with her sons Barry, Robert, and Bill, Janyk was joined by her grandson Garrett, and granddaughter Britt Janyk, who skied with the Canadian Olympic team.

The great-grandmothersa国际传媒檚 message to anyone afraid to give is simple: sa国际传媒淣o pain, 20 minutes, then yousa国际传媒檒l gain.sa国际传媒�

Spencer Harwood, The Canadian Press

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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