An Indiegogo Crowdfunding campaign to share bone cancer patient Joshua Coetzee’s journey will be closed in the next 49 hours and support is coming in slowly.
Since the Record first reported on local producers Ryno Smook and Hendré van der Berg’s intentions of creating a documentary about bone cancer in children, using Joshua as a living, breathing example, $560 (or R8923, with the current R15.94 per dollar exchange rate) has been raised. Their goal remains to raise $4 500, or about R70 000, with which to fund the filming of the 40-minute documentary and the initial distribution thereof.
Joshua, 11, who recently received his sixth chemotherapy treatment and will go on to radiation therapy this year, wants to draw people’s attention to donating platelets to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). These are key to cancer patients, especially with his diagnosis, undergoing treatments. Platelets are transfused to a patient separately from blood transfusions. A ‘whole’ blood donation can be split into red blood cells, platelets and plasma to donate to those who need it most, but residents can also donate platelets only. The process of extracting blood, extracting platelets therefrom and transfusing the rest of the blood back to the donor takes about an hour and a half.
To date, Joshua has received nine blood transfusions and four platelet transfusions and he will need many more.
For more information or to get in touch with the family and production team, visitwww.joshuasjourney.co.za (redirects to his facebook page) or www.joshuasjourney.co.za/donate (redirects to Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign). Hendré van der Berg can also be reached on 082 789 9355.
Donate blood and save a life at these local donor centres:
• Roodepoort: Westgate Shopping Centre, Ontdekkers Road. 011 768 0283 or 011 768 8736.
• Florida: 31 Beacon Road, Building 5, Florida. 011 670 8600.
• Krugersdorp: Monument Shopping Centre, Voortrekker Road. 011 954 0229 or 011 954 6804.
Read more: Help Joshua share his journey
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