PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A longtime blood donor marked a major milestone Thursday morning.

The Rhode Island Blood Center announced that retiree Paul Rego donated his 100th gallon of blood, which equates to 800 pints.

Rego, who moved to Rhode Island back in 1982, told NewsNation affiliate WRPI that he was inspired to donate blood after his mother-in-law had one of her kidneys surgically removed.

“I started donating whole blood for her back in 1996,” Rego explained, adding that he now almost exclusively donates platelets after learning he has a high count.

Rego said he’s motivated to donate by the childhood cancer patients who rely on platelet donations for survival.

Though Rego has since moved to Seekonk, he still donates platelets in Rhode Island every two weeks.

“I hope to do it for another 30 years,” Rego replied when asked how long he planned to continue donating.

His message to anyone considering donating blood or platelets is simple.

“Every donation that’s given — whether it’s whole blood, platelets, granulocytes, or whatever you’d called for — is going to help someone,” Rego said. “It’s easy, so just come in and do it.”