HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Today is World Blood Donor Day. It is the 20th year that this is being celebrated and this year’s theme gives thanks to all those who have given the gift of life.

Kacey Raines, the Medical Center laboratory manager at Sentara RMH, told Rocktown Now that they continue to raise awareness about blood donations.

“We hear lots of commercials, we talk about it a lot, you see all kinds of public displays and requests for blood – the need is always there,” Raines said. “It’s constant, you know. 4.5 million lives a year are saved because of blood transfusions.”

Raines added that there are around seven million donors nationwide. However, that only represents three percent of all eligible donors.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one pint of blood saves up to three lives.