After his blood donation journey came to an abrupt halt, Mr Ng Hak Beng quietly held onto the hope that one day he might be able to return.

Over three decades ago, Mr Ng Hak Beng made his first donation at his junior college’s mobile blood drive simply because it seemed like the right thing to do.

“There are those who are in need, and I’m able to help, so why not?”

What started as a simple act of giving soon became a regular part of his routine for the next 25 years.

The Ten-Year Interruption

That changed 10 years ago, when he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and told he could no longer donate. The news came as a surprise to Hak Beng, who had intended to continue donating for as long as he could.

“I didn’t expect to stop donating blood so early on and was very disappointed. It meant I was no longer able to give back to society.”

Even after he stopped donating, the thought never fully left him — part of him always wondered if he might be able to donate again.

Finding His Way Back

Rather than being discouraged, Hak Beng started making a conscious effort to maintain a healthier lifestyle, cutting back on greasy food and taking better care of his overall health. 

A year ago, out of curiosity, he decided to drop by the bloodbank to check his eligibility, and was ecstatic to discover he was fit to donate again.

Returning to the bloodbank after the long break felt vaguely familiar yet foreign at the same time.

“The bloodbank looks mostly the same, but many staff have moved on. Going through the donation process again — the disinfection, the anaesthesia, seeing the blood being drawn — it felt just right.”

From Hiatus to Titanium

To date, Hak Beng has achieved 177 donations, earning him the Titanium Award at this year’s World Blood Donor Day — a recognition of his extraordinary commitment to saving lives through blood donation.

Over the years, he also came to understand why some people hesitate to donate blood. While helping to organise a friendly ‘Blood Wars’ donation drive between Star Treks and Star Wars fans in his younger days, he realised that many people were afraid of needles or uncertain about the process.

But to Hak Beng, donating blood is ultimately a simple act that makes a life-saving difference.

“Given the opportunity, I hope to show them how simple and painless the whole procedure really is.”

Looking back on his own journey, he does not see the years away from donation as a setback.

“I see it as another opportunity given to continue these donations, and I hope to continue donating for as long as I can.”