GALLERY: Dancers dance for Haemophilia awareness
BERARIO - SA Haemophilia Foundation chairperson and his wife inspired by their son to help even more people with this disease.
Living with a disease can be even harder if one does not have the necessary funds to get the help that you need.
The South African Haemophilia Foundation hosted the Dance 4 PWH multi-style dance competition at the Berario Recreation Centre on 30 April and 1 May. Chairperson of the regional Central Haemophilia Foundation, John Bradley said that this is the fifth year that they have hosted the competition which raises funds for the foundation. He explained that the funds are to train nurses, for medication as well as other necessities. Bradley added that the medication can cost anywhere from R3 000 per week.
Bradley’s wife, Erica used to be a dance teacher and after their oldest son, Kieran (10) was diagnosed with Haemophilia, the couple got involved with the foundation and the hosting of the dance competition.
Haemophilia is an inherited disorder that prevents blood from forming a stable clot. A person with heamophilia has little or no clotting factor. When a person with heamophilia is injured, he or she will have prolonged bleeding, because they dos not have the factor needed to make a firm clot. Bradley explained that this is why funds are needed in order to supply patients with a replacement factor.
125 dancers competed in the competition in different classical and Latin dance styles, in solo or couples categories. A Haemophilia nurse, Ntswaki Kolatsoeu attended the competition on 30 April and said that she has four years of experience as a nurse specifically caring for Haemophilia patients.
“This dance competition is good entertainment and motivates children that live with Haemophilia to still have normal lives like other children,” said Kolatsoeu. She added that she has a real passion for doing what she does.
Apart from the dance competitors putting on a real show for the audience, dancers from the Dalida Belly Dance school also entertained with colourful costumes as well as their belly dancing skills and tricks.
Details: SA Haemophilia Foundation, 011 787 6710.
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