Kyneton's Paul Ruff clocked up his 750^th blood donation on Saturday, after 50 years as a donor.

Mr Ruff was 19 when he began to donate, drawn in part by the time off work most employers allowed.

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Soon after his mother had surgery where she needed blood, which added to the draw.

"You're just giving back what somebody in your family has received," Mr Ruff said.

Since then Mr Ruff has donated everything from plasma, to platelets. He's kept going because of the ease with which he can make a difference to someone else's life.

"It's a great example of poor man's philanthropy," Mr Ruff said.

"It doesn't hurt you, you've just got to find - in my case - a couple of hours once a fortnight."

It's good for others, but Mr Ruff said donating could also be a wake up when it came to your own health.

A few years ago a blood bank visit identified a sudden increase in his blood pressure, which could have caused a stroke within months. Now Mr Ruff knows the symptoms of a blood pressure event.

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He urged others to also donate blood, saying it was a wonderful opportunity to meet a real need.

"Donate blood, save a life, who knows, it could be your own," he said.

"At the same time you're providing a great social service ... and it doesn't cost anything except a little bit of time."

To donate blood call 13 14 95, or visit: donateblood.com.au/.

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