Norwich ― Ledyard’s Christopher Graham was celebrated by Red Cross officials Thursday as he donated a pint of blood that allowed him to reach 28 gallons of blood donations since 1978.

Before Graham, 66, laid down at the Red Cross donation center on Salem Turnpike for his 222nd donation, American Red Cross District Manager Lynne Phillips presented him with an award in the shape of a blood drop.

This month is National Blood Donor month during which the Red Cross celebrates those who save lives through blood and platelet donations.

“We’re actively trying to get donors to come in, and repeat donors. The average donor donates about two times a year,” Phillips said. “They can donate about five or six depending on how the calendar year falls and how the timing of their donations fall.”

“So even if we could get those two-time people to donate one more time, or somebody to come in and start donating two more times, that would make a big difference,” she said.

Graham said he now donates every 56 days, which is the how long donors have to wait until they can give their next unit. He said he began donating in 1978 when Pfizer, where he worked at the time, set up a donation center.

He said his blood type, AB positive, is rare.

“So they would sign me up for donations. They called me to donate,” he recalled.

Less than 4 percent of people in America have AB positive blood. Donors with AB blood types can give plasma to any patients and are known as universal plasma donors.

Phillips said Graham’s 222 units of blood is enough to help about 666 people. Units can be split into platelets, red blood cells and plasma and sent to hospitals or medical centers for transfusions or other medical procedures.

His son Ryan called the donation his father’s “contribution to the community.”

“He’s been doing it as long as I’ve known him and I’m 38,” he added. “He’s religiously done it every 56 days, as long as I can remember. Being a homosexual male, I wasn’t able to donate until just recently.”

Chris Graham said he had to stop donating for a while after he had a stroke, but never considered stopping altogether.

“That’s when I talked to my doctor and I’m like, ‘can I donate blood again?’ After that she said, yeah, you’re good to go. All right there we go. Peanut butter crackers in my future,” he said, a reference to one of the things he eats after donating.

After receiving his award and having his blood pressure, temperature and pulse taken on Thursday, Graham went to lay down on one of the center’s blue medical beds.

“It’s all about the Oreos,” he joked as the needle sucked his blood into a bag that was swinging by the side of the bed.

“I usually go to the churches because there’s always a need for blood. And there’s a lot of donation centers at the churches, Graham added. ”And the old ladies have better sandwiches.“

He said the donation process is quick and painless.

Phillips said it takes about 10 to 15 minutes, after which donors can enjoy a snack and leave. With the check-in, the process takes 45 minutes to an hour, she said.

“Everybody needs blood. You know what I mean?” Graham said about his achievement.

d.drainville@theday.com