Good Morning Angels Extra (Bone Marrow Day)
Our Listeners responded generously to our GMA Bone Marrow Day!
Our Listeners responded generously to our GMA Bone Marrow Day!
Last week Wednesday was a very special day ... and it's all thanks to our listeners, sponsors and Vijilia Esquino.
We asked you to help give the Bone Marrow Register of South Africa a boost, to honour Vijilia, who died las month after a brave battle with leukaemia. Bone Marrow can save the lives of some cancer patients, but that can only be received from donors. The more donors, the better the chances for those needing that life line.
Good Morning Angels gave R 100 000,00 to cover the registration cost of the first 50 people to heed our call. Another sponsor, who initially donated R50 000,00 to Vijilia, then agreed that this money be used for the GMA Bone Marrow Drive - to add another 25 donors free of charge.
The Sunflower Funds' Tarryn Bowden kept us up to date as the day went on and by the end of business more than 75 people had registered! Thank you to every person who did - we salute you!
This morning, we catch up with Tarryn to get the final total for Wednesday 6 March - our GMA Bone Marrow Day.
A total of 157 people were registered on 6 March 2013 to become bone marrow donors. The Sunflower fund has to date received over 600 calls for people wanting to become donors, which is more than double the amount received on the NATIONAL Bandana Day - all we can say is thank you!
You can still register. Below is some helpful information.
THE FACTS:
To register to become a bone marrow donor is NOT painful: two test tubes of your blood will be extracted for molecular analysis, to be placed on the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).
The testing costs the Sunflower Fund R2000,00 each donor.
Call The Sunflower Fund toll free number 0800-12-10-82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za for more information.
They will send you donor information to read, make sure you read the information and call their toll free number again to register.
If you meet the donor criteria and they will complete your application form and direct you to your closest testing centre.
When you call The Sunflower Fund to register, mention that you are a Jacaranda FM listener and you will save The Sunflower Fund R2000.
Once all this has been done, you will be placed on the South African Bone Marrow Registry.
If you are found to be a match for someone someday, you will receive a call from the SABMR.
You will need to take a day's sick leave.
To donate bone marrow stem cells is not painful: no drilling into your bones!
To donate, you will be required to sit in a big, comfy chair, with a drip in each arm for 4-6 hours. Once you are done, you can go home!
You can then still register without any cost to you! If you still want to register, but cannot afford to donate towards the cost of R2000.00, the Sunflower Fund will put you on their waiting list and as soon as funds become available, they will send you your form.
For all the info visit: www.sunflowerfund.org.za