Mr Wynn thought nothing of it until he went to the doctor and had his blood tested. The next day, his wife, Kirili, received a phone call urging her husband to get to the emergency room.

Eight hours after arriving at hospital, Mr Wynn was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia before being airlifted to Sydney for immediate treatment.

"I didn't realise I was in for an eight month journey of blood transfusions, chemo and losing hair," he said. "I just felt helpless."

A ceremony was held at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday to recognise "milestone" blood donors, part of the Australian Red Cross National Blood Donor Week.

More than 100 people from across the Riverina were gifted with certificates for their thousands of litres of blood donations estimated to have enriched the lives of thousands more.

In remission, Mr Wynn is just one cancer patient thankful for the generosity of blood donors.

"What was the value of blood donors? High," Mr Wynn said, matter-of-factly. "I wouldn't be alive if I didn't have them."

The baker by trade received more than 60 bags of blood to restock his depleted blood levels, which had dropped to half their normal state.

Becoming a donor is relatively simple; only a health screening test must be met. During donation, a pressure cuff is wrapped around the arm and a needle is inserted into a suitable vein. A full donation takes about five to 10 minutes to complete.

For regular donors like Martin Brown, of Tumbarumba, who has made more than 200 donations, it's an easy way to help others.

"I'm sure there are plenty of others who donate, but not enough - that is the problem," he said.

Mr Brown has been donating plasma since 1976 and drives from Tumbarumba to Wagga every fortnight to do it.

"Some people think they might have a fear of needles ... but you just have to sit back and squeeze."

The Australian Red Cross estimates they need more than 27,000 extra donations per week to meet demand.