Mandela Day was celebrated on 18 July every year but many individuals and organisations have adopted the entire month to show their commitment to meaningful chang e through various initiatives that address a number of socio-economic issues.
DKMS Africa, formerly known as The Sunflower Fund, is sending out an appeal to individuals and organisations to champion their cause by joining the fight against blood diseases. DKMS Africa aims to give patients with life-threatening blood disorders a second chance at life through blood stem cell transplants and the recruitment of viable blood stem cell donors. The more donors registered means a greater pool of prospective matches for patients affected by blood disorders, such as leukaemia. The organisation hopes to recruit 2 000 new donors this Mandela Month. To register as a blood stem donor is a quick and simple once-off process which involves a non-invasive cheek swab.
You can join their worthy campaign by becoming a “champion” and requesting a bulk kit pack which is a collection of individual donor registration kits that facilitates several donors signing up at the same time within an organisation. The champion is in charge of overseeing the organisational initiative and encouraging their colleagues to take action, sign up and do their bit for Mandela Day. All the tools needed to educate potential donors is provided and each kit contains all the information a donor will need to sign up and complete the swabbing process from the safety and comfort of their own office or home. During the current Covid-19 regulations, DKMS Africa has provided people with the opportunity to make a life-changing contribution for Mandela Day without leaving their home or office. One can still safely “take action and inspire change”. For more information on bulk kits and how you can request one, please contact Nockey Mkhize on 031-266-1148 or email nockey.mkhize@dkms-africa.org.
