SABMR hosts charity golf day in Houghton
HOUGHTON – All proceeds from the event will be put towards the SABMR patient assistance programme.
The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) hosted a festive charity golf day at the Houghton Golf Club on 31 March.
Ten teams of players took to the course with excellent weather conditions on the day.
Gauteng sustainability and donor recruitment coordinator Ndinae Muligwe explained that the purpose of the registry is to recruit stem cell donors to assist those suffering from leukaemia and other blood cancers who are in need of a life-saving stem cell transplant.
The NPO relies solely on donations from corporates and the public to remain sustainable, but since March last year there has been little room for fundraising events.
“This is our first event for 2021 and we are hoping to raise R250 000 for the patient assistance programme today. This money should help assist one or two South African patients with a local transplant,” said Muligwe.
She said that the organisation is not only in need of funding but also an increased database of donors.
Donors need to be healthy individuals between the ages of 16 and 45 with no first-degree relative with blood cancer. Further exclusion criteria can be found on SABMR
“We need people in that age group from all backgrounds and racial groups. A patient in need of a transplant has a one in 100 000 chance of finding a match, so we are also affiliated with the world registry to have a greater database.”
Muligwe explained that racial diversity within the donor group is important since it is easier to find a donor within your own race group.
She said that the process of donating stem cells is fairly painless and simple. All of the donor’s medical bills will be covered by the SABMR.
If you are too old to donate or unable to do so for whatever reason, you are encouraged to contribute financially to the registry.
“South Africans need support to undergo this procedure due to financial constraints. All monies donated will be audited and professionally handled. Medical bills in South Africa are high. People are dying who could be saved if they were given financial support.”
Details: To find out more, email ndinae.muligwe@sabmr.co.za or call 071 469 8127.
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