The theme of this year’s campaign is “Thank you for saving my life”. It focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly with the slogan “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters.”
June is World Blood Donor Month and the students from Varsity College Durban North, with the support of The Sunflower Fund and the South African National Blood Services (SANBS), are encouraging members of the public to donate blood and register as bone marrow stem cell donors. By educating healthy, caring and committed people they hope to increase the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR). For patients with life threatening blood disorders like leukaemia, this offers a greater chance of finding a match and a second chance at life. By donating a pint of blood, you can further help save three lives.
It only takes 2 test tubes of blood to register as a potential bone marrow stem cell donor on the SABMR but it costs R2000 to tissue type the blood samples to the required DNA level. The Sunflower Fund, responsible for the recruitment and growth of the SABMR, has to engage in extensive awareness and fundraising to pay for these test costs of potential donors. To make a donation of R20 to this worthy cause, in support of World Blood Donor Month, SMS “HOPE” to 40555. (Sms charged at R20. Free sms’s do not apply. Revenue paid to the charity is subject to network operator fees and administration fees).
Please contact The Sunflower Fund toll free 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za for more information. To arrange an awareness talk at your organization please contact Mandy Bergsma, mandy@sunflowerfund.org.za.
The students are also encouraging the public to join the South African National Blood Service this June and celebrate those who contribute to saving the lives of others. To find out more about World Blood Donor Day and Blood Donor Month visit www.sanbs.org.za or call 0800 11 9031.