That was exactly the case with La Lucia resident, Pippa Coote. The local business woman regularly organises events to help raise funds and awareness in the community, and this year her efforts have been inspired by her late father, Wally Sharratt.
Coote hopes to facilitate four blood donor clinics in the area to help the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) with their blood stocks in honour of her father. “My dad was a regular blood donor, even when we were living on a farm outside Harrismith, he and my mother would travel 42 kilometres every three months to donate blood. He never knew anyone who needed blood, he just did it regularly. It was always something he felt a strong need to do,” she said.
Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Coote’s mother and father would later be diagnosed with cancer. “My mum was diagnosed first, and then my dad. While my mum would survive her cancer, my dad was not so lucky,” said Coote.
The family watched as a once healthy and active Sharratt, was slowly consumed by lymphoma. “At 65 he was the picture of health. He was still actively farming and had run 13 Comrades Marathons. He needed a couple of blood transfusions. Seeing someone so healthy being consumed by the disease just shows you the strength of the disease. It is very hard to conquer,” she added.
Her brave dad managed to battle the disease and went into remission, but the family was told that if the cancer returned it would be terminal. About 18 months later their worst fears were realised. “He was such a Trojan. He exercised, ate healthy and remained optimistic until the end. He passed away in 2008,” said Coote.
The aim, according to Coote, is to host the clinics every three months, as per donation regulations, in order to create a donor culture among the community. “I don’t want people to see it as an obligation. I want it to be a fun and optimistic thing that people do. It is something that does not cost a cent, only 20 minutes of your time. Even if we don’t know someone who needs a blood transfusion now, chances are we will sometime in the future,” she said.
The first clinic will be held on 18 March at the Harvest Church in Somerset Park from 11am to 6pm. The Hello Café will be open where people can enjoy a cup of coffee, hold a meeting or even meet some friends for a lunch break while donating blood.
