Leo Kerling has potentially saved the lives of up to 552 people, simply by taking a short drive from home, sitting in a chair and clinching a foam ball in his fist.

On Monday afternoon, Kerling received an honorary pin for donating a total of 23 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, making him one of the top five donors in Mower County.

Now 82, Kerling has been going to the bloodmobile since 1950, when there was an added bonus to giving blood.

Today, Haldorson said, it is more difficult to attract college and high school students to blood drives.

In the summer, however, there is less participation among all age groups.

Mary Hyland, administrative assistant and blood services coordinator of the Mower County Bloodmobile, cited travel as a major reason for the decrease.

“A lot of people go on vacation,” she said. “There are more deferments.”

There is no upper age limit for donors, but they must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

The average adult body contains 10 to 12 pints and people usually give one pint of blood at each donating session. Each pint can save up to three lives, going to victims of cancer or other diseases, patients of heart surgery and organ transplants and newborn and premature babies.

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the Oak Park Mall today and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m.

“Austin has always been a big community draw,” Haldorson said. “We appreciate the community coming.”