Miles4Marrow calls for athletes
"Leukaemia patients often spend weeks or months in isolation wards and sport is not an option for them."
THE Sunflower Fund is appealing to all interested athletes who will attempting any major sporting event in 2016, be it the Midmar Mile, Dusi Canoe Marathon, Comrades Marathon or Amashova, to consider championing their worthy cause by participating in their 2016 Miles4Marrow fundraising and awareness campaign.
PR and Events Specialist for The Sunflower Fund, Allison Ekstrand, said athletes generously support this cause with the knowledge that Leukaemia sufferers don’t have sport as an option for them. “The Sunflower Fund’s Miles4Marrow campaign has proven to be a highly effective fundraising and awareness tool as the athletes enjoy doing what they love for a good cause and people enjoy supporting those they admire for doing something so physically challenging. Sportsmen and women also seem to be more empathetic to the plight of those with terminal illnesses as they appreciate the fact that they can enjoy outdoor sport. Leukaemia patients often spend weeks or months in isolation wards and sport is not an option for them,” said Ekstrand.
Participating athletes are responsible for approaching their personal and work databases to sponsor them per mile covered and no contribution is too small. All funds raised will go toward building the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) to give hope to patients diagnosed with life-threatening blood disorders who are searching for their one in 100 000 donor match.
Contact Allison Ekstrand on 031 266 1148 or 079 881 3056 or e-mail allison@sunflowerfund.org.za. For more information on The Sunflower Fund or how to become a stem cell donor, visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za or call toll free 0800 12 10 82.
