FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – If you ask Martha Herbert what she’s most passionate about, the first thing that would come out of her mouth is “family.”

“It would be a toss-up.  I have hunted since I was a little kid,” she said as she flipped through her photo album.

However, what she’s most proud of is something she’s done for nearly 50 years.

“When I sit down and think about the numbers of it, it is overwhelming.  But like I said it took 47 years,” said Herbert.

In 1966, Herbert’s freshman year at Coker College, she was schooled by a faculty member on the importance of giving blood.

“It was the one thing that I could do to give my life’s blood such that somebody else might live.  I had a very high platelet count so I donated every two weeks,” she mentioned.

Over 400 platelet donations later, she earned her way on the American Red Cross’ calendar while also receiving awards and then eventually the hall of fame.

“I was moved to tears.  I don’t cry very much at all…no, I was not a crier,” she smiled.

It wasn’t until a year later in August of 2015 that life came full circle.

“It was just my day to have an accident,” Herbert recalled.

She was clearing brush on her tractor along a deep canal when her tractor tumbled more than 10 feet down the embankment.

“Instead of going around the bush I just ducked.  Well when I went on through the right front wheel of the tractor on the very edge and the edge gave way,” she explained.

As the tractor was tumbling I was thinking, this is how it ends,” she later said.

The tractor caught fire, but Herbert managed to turn the engine off and fired off shots from her gun until help arrived.

She suffered fourth degree burns from the accident and spent months in recovery, while in the meantime developing a sense of humor.

“Even with the tractor tumbling and landing on top of me, I was a tough old coot,” she smiled.

I had given for years and years and years…47 years and then I needed blood products,” Herbert stated.

No longer able to give blood, she’s still just as passionate.

“I can’t give and I need somebody to take my place.  Right now, because I’m weak I just can’t do a lot of thing.  But I am coming back,” said Herbert.

She is still recovering from her burns and encourages everyone to donate blood.

You can do just that this Thursday when WBTW News13 and the American Red Cross sponsor a pair of blood drives.

You can donate at Magnolia Mall in Florence or at the HealthFinders inside Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach.

Both events will start at 11:00 am and end at 7:00 pm.

Donors will get a free box of Girl Scout cookies and tickets to a Florence Redwolves game while supplies last.