Rainer Keilbach still remembers his first blood donation clearly. “At the time, I was in the German army in Sigmaringen,” he says. The motivation back then: “If you donated blood, you got a day of special leave,” he says. That was in 1986.
“As a young guy in the German army, I didn’t have to think twice about taking a day off,” he says. Thomas Schad from the German Red Cross (DRK) also remembers: “At that time, masses of soldiers signed up and were then taken in buses to donate blood.”
Many familiar faces
Today, the motivation is different: “I want to help people,” explains Rainer Keilbach. That’s why he donates blood up to four times a year. “It’s always a highlight because you meet acquaintances, work colleagues, schoolmates and friends.”
Also always there: his brother Dieter Keilbach, who now drives from Kressbronn to Tuttlingen especially for the inspection.
1975 was the first time
His blood donation story begins completely the opposite way: “I didn’t want to join the army and so I did an alternative service with the German Red Cross – in complete contrast to my brother.” It was through the German Red Cross that he also started donating blood, for the first time in 1975.
Many years and numerous blood donations later, the brothers are far from finished. “I definitely want to continue until I reach retirement age,” says Dieter Keilbach. That’s still a good year for the 67-year-old. Rainer Keilbach wants to make his 100th donation.
How often can you donate?
You can donate four times a year. There must be 56 days between two appointments. “Some years we only go twice, other years we manage four times,” says Dieter Keilbach, who is himself a trained paramedic and supporting member of the German Red Cross.
The brothers met for the 75th blood donation at the end of August in the auditorium of the Immanuel Kant Gymnasium. “It’s a nice coincidence that we have the 75th at the same time,” says Rainer Keilbach. “I gave myself a little time so that my brother could catch up,” says Dieter Keilbach with a smile.
That is why he went to NRW for the 50th donation
They have also been able to convince some of their friends and family to donate blood. For example, Rainer Keilbach’s daughter, who made her first donation at the same time as his 50th donation. “We went to the air force barracks in Cologne-Wahn,” says Keilbach. Also because you get a gold blood donation pin with diamonds for your 50th donation. “You only get them in North Rhine-Westphalia,” he says.
This “Gold Badge of Honour with Oak Wreath and Diamonds” was awarded for the 50th blood donation (Photo: private)
And although they have already convinced many people, they hope to encourage even more to donate blood in the future. “There are still not enough people. And it’s not a lot of effort. Thanks to the time slots that you can book online, there aren’t even long waiting times anymore,” stresses Dieter Keilbach.
