A Fort Myers man is on his way to being the world record holder for most blood donations when he gave two more pints Thursday at the Lee Memorial Hospital Blood Center. Friends, family, and officials spoke with and congratulated John Sheppard as he was getting his blood drawn.

Sheppard has been donating blood for 60 years. He wasn’t aware of how much blood he has donated, until staff at the Blood Center brought it to his attention.

The current world record for most blood donations is approximately 220 pints by an Australian man. Sheppard just donated his 315th pint of blood.

The 79-year-old is completing the documentation needed to get his number in the Guinness Book of World Records.

But Sheppard says this record is not about him.

“It’s first of all about a good friend of mine who was severely wounded in Korea in 1951 – and I began giving in honor of him,” he said.

“It’s also about encouraging people when they’re young to begin donating – that you can give the rest of your life as long as your veins and health holds up.”

Sheppard’s blood donations have impacted almost 950 people to date.