Sunflower Day celebrated to local cancer survivors

DKMS Africa celebrated Sunflower Day, a heartfelt initiative dedicated to supporting patients affected by blood cancer.

This day honours the legacy of two brave young men, Darren Serebro and Chris Corlett, whose battle against leukaemia inspired the founding of The Sunflower Fund in 1999, their vision was to grow the bone marrow registry, giving leukaemia patients a chance at a healthy life.

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In 2021, the Sunflower Fund joined forces with a global non-profit stem cell registry and donor centre to multiply efforts to register more ethnically diverse donors and effectively give all patients a fighting chance against cancer.

DKMS has a presence in seven different countries spanning five continents and has a donor registry of 12.5 million donors. In South Africa, over 96 000 donors have been recruited since the commencement of the partnership.

Every September, DKMS Africa commemorates Sunflower Day to raise awareness about the challenges faced by patients with blood cancers and disorders. For over 20 years, this day has symbolised hope for those in need.

This year, DKMS Africa spent a joyful day of play for children from CHOC, filled with fun games designed to spark their excitement and share kindness.

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DKMS Africa’s Head of Communications and Community Engagement, Palesa Mokomele stated, “Sunflower Day has become a vital health awareness commemorative day in South Africa.

“Over the years, it has expanded to include community engagement, education, and support for patients, ensuring their needs remain our top priority.”

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA’s Western Cape and Namakwa Region Regional Manager Lynette Muthuray added, “We cherish opportunities to celebrate our children. This occasion allowed them to be carefree and enjoy play, a welcomed break from their daily routines.”

DHL Stormers Rugby player and DKMS Africa ambassador Seabelo Senatla emphasised the importance of compassion and reinforced the need for kindness and support for those affected by cancer and blood disorders.