74-year-old granddad reaches 600 blood donations — and he’s not done yet
At 74 years old, Mike Neumayer of Wood Dale has done something few people in the world can claim: he has rolled up his sleeve 600 times to help save the lives of strangers.
On the day of his milestone donation, staff at the Vitalant Villa Park Donation Center surprised him with balloons, cake, and applause to honor a man whose quiet commitment has made an extraordinary impact. But Mike was humble as ever.
“I just think it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “If people don’t donate blood and platelets, people will die. You can’t make blood. You can’t get it anywhere else.”
His journey as a blood and platelet donor began in the 1970s. Over the decades, he has inspired his family and community with his consistency and selflessness. Married for 47 years, he and his wife raised two daughters and now enjoy time with their five grandchildren.
Donating wasn’t just a good deed — it became personal. Years into his donation journey, Mike’s wife was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer. “She needed transfusions during treatment. She needed big bags too. Knowing that blood donations saved her … it only strengthened my commitment,” he shared.
She’s now seven years cancer-free.
Mike has donated so often that his left arm can no longer be used — but he’s still going strong using his right arm. Even donations he made while living in Milwaukee, which aren’t counted toward his current total, show how unwavering his dedication has been.
And if you ask Mike, he’s not stopping anytime soon.
About Vitalant
Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies health care organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission. Learn more at vitalant.org.