An ‘oar’some paddle to raise blood donation awareness
Local paddlers aim to raise blood awareness inspired by a friend who died of leukemia whose treatment was frequently delayed due to the shortage of blood supplies and the all-important platelets required.
EARLIER this year the story of low blood supplies forcing critically ill patients to wait for urgent surgery was a poignant reminder to a group of paddlers who have dedicated this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon to their good mate Martin Piggott, who passed away last year after battling leukaemia.
In his fight against this disease he was frequently delayed vital treatment due to the shortage of blood supplies and the all-important platelets required.
Durban North resident Travis Wilkinson, who is doing his 16th Dusi said he and a group of 48 paddlers are dedicating this year’s race to Martin but were also aiming to raise awareness of the countrywide blood shortage.
The paddlers will be kitting out their crafts in red under the banner ‘Piggy Paddle for Blood’. The group are also paddling in support of the Durban North Blood Donor Spot in Kensington Square.
“The last conversation I had with Martin was when he was in hospital, he said once he recovered he wanted to make a blood donation to counter the low blood stock supply. While Martin was fighting leukaemia we made the call for a ‘blood flood’.
“As a group we encouraged others to donate blood and are determined to keep the awareness of the importance of blood donation in the public eye. Before he passed away, Martin told me not to visit him in hospital because he wanted to have a braai with all of us after he got out. We will have that braai after Dusi,” Wilkinson said
Jan van de Putte, another Piggy Paddler, said throughout Martin’s ordeal, he was made more aware of blood stock shortage.
“At least of 80 per cent of blood donated goes towards cancer patients so I now understand firsthand what a difference your donation can make. I’m particularly championing donors who are O-, the universal blood type. It can be used in emergency situations when the patient’s own blood type is unknown, but with just 7 per cent of the population having O- blood, we always need more donors,” he said.
Dusi chairman, Brett Austen-Smith, said he was 100 per cent behind the ‘Piggy Paddlers’ and said one of the legacies of the Dusi race, was the charity drives. “I wish Travis and the team well out on the river. This is such a worth cause and I encourage people to donate blood regularly,” Smith said.
