Latest news with #SABMR
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Take a swing in Mount Edgecombe to save a life
Take a swing in Mount Edgecombe to save a life GOLFERS and corporates are being called to swing into action for a meaningful cause at the SA Bone Marrow Registry's (SABMR) fourth annual charity golf day, set for September 26 at the Mt Edgecombe Country Club, the Lakes. Also read: Running towards purpose, passion, wellness More than just a friendly round of golf, the event aims to raise vital funds for the SABMR's Patient Assistance Programme, which helps cover the cost of life-saving bone marrow stem cell transplants for vulnerable patients. 'This isn't just about golf, it's about giving someone a second chance at life. Every cent raised on the day goes directly towards helping patients who cannot afford the procedures they urgently need,' said Kapil Premchand, KZN SABMR sustainability co-ordinator. This year's goal is to support three patients from KZN who have been diagnosed and are in desperate need of stem cell transplants. Players and supporters can contribute by entering a fourball team at R3750, sponsoring a hole, donating prizes, or simply making a pledge. The day includes a full golfing experience with welcome drinks, lunch, a sit-down dinner, an exciting auction, and a celebratory prize-giving ceremony. 'Expect some incredible items on auction – from signed sports memorabilia and luxury getaways to lifestyle vouchers and exclusive experiences. There's also an online auction powered by AUCOR Auctioneers launching a week ahead of the event,' Premchand added. With proceeds going directly to patients in need, Premchand said the event offers a unique opportunity for participants to 'play a round and save a life'. Bookings close on September 25, and spaces are limited. To book or get involved, contact Kapil Premchand at [email protected] or call 072 778 5670. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
The Citizen
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Zishan finds life-saving stem cell donor
When nine-year-old Zishan Reddy was diagnosed with leukaemia for the second time and needed a bone marrow transplant, his mother Goolshun, family friends, and the Ashton International College community sprang into action in the hopes of finding a donor. Goolshun issued a heartfelt plea for potential donors to register with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), while Ashton hosted a stem cell donor drive on May 30. In a show of solidarity, teacher Robyn Daniel also dedicated her June 8 Comrades Marathon run to Zishan's fight. While Goolshun says she is 'eternally grateful for the support from South Africans', she never imagined that her son's match would come from nearly 7 300km away, in India. 'When Dr Kate Bennett shared the news with Zishan, he just threw his hands up in the air and said, 'Yes, yes, yes!' I could just see the excitement in his face,' said Goolshun. 'But with all the excitement also comes some anxiety. We are just taking it day by day,' she added. ALSO READ: Robyn achieves Comrades PB for little leukemia sufferer 'All we know is that the donor is from India, and we are eternally grateful to them for giving so selflessly and being willing to save another life. We are relieved it's a great match for my little warrior, Zishan. 'We continue to pray the transplant will be an easy and painless journey for him. We trust his strength, courage and fighting spirit will carry him through.' She extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported them during this journey: 'We are eternally grateful for all the love and support and hope you will continue to help others still waiting for a transplant. Thank you, and God bless, from my family to yours.' She had special words for her daughter: 'To my daughter Thuraya, thank you for being the best big sister. You are such a strong, beautiful girl, and I am super proud of you. We love you very much.' She also praised Robyn Daniel for her dedication and continued support: 'A very special thank you to Robyn for her love and support of our family. It is so heart-warming and means so much to us. She has continued to keep in touch with Zishan's treatment through regular messages. She has a heart full of love and care.' Zishan recently spent five days at Netcare Unitas Hospital receiving radiation and has since been transferred to the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre, where the next phase of his transplant will begin. ALSO READ: It would mean the world to Zishan if he gets a stem cell donor
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
International donor found for Zishan Reddy
When nine-year-old Zishan Reddy was diagnosed with leukaemia for the second time and needed a bone marrow transplant, his mother Goolshun, family friends, and the Ashton International College community sprang into action in the hopes of finding a donor. Goolshun issued a heartfelt plea for potential donors to register with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), while Ashton hosted a stem cell donor drive on May 30. In a show of solidarity, teacher Robyn Daniel also dedicated her June 8 Comrades Marathon run to Zishan's fight. While Goolshun says she is 'eternally grateful for the support from South Africans', she never imagined that her son's match would come from nearly 7 300km away, in India. 'When Dr Kate Bennett shared the news with Zishan, he just threw his hands up in the air and said, 'Yes, yes, yes!' I could just see the excitement in his face,' said Goolshun. 'But with all the excitement also comes some anxiety. We are just taking it day by day,' she added. 'All we know is that the donor is from India, and we are eternally grateful to them for giving so selflessly and being willing to save another life. We are relieved it's a great match for my little warrior, Zishan. 'We continue to pray the transplant will be an easy and painless journey for him. We trust his strength, courage and fighting spirit will carry him through.' She extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported them during this journey: 'We are eternally grateful for all the love and support and hope you will continue to help others still waiting for a transplant. Thank you, and God bless, from my family to yours.' She had special words for her daughter: 'To my daughter Thuraya, thank you for being the best big sister. You are such a strong, beautiful girl, and I am super proud of you. We love you very much.' She also praised Robyn Daniel for her dedication and continued support: 'A very special thank you to Robyn for her love and support of our family. It is so heart-warming and means so much to us. She has continued to keep in touch with Zishan's treatment through regular messages. She has a heart full of love and care.' Zishan recently spent five days at Netcare Unitas Hospital receiving radiation and has since been transferred to the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre, where the next phase of his transplant will begin. Also Read: This Kids Haven fundraiser is a laughing matter – be there! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Urgent appeal for young men as stem cell donors
There is a shortage of young male stem cell donors in South Africa in the age group of 16 to 35, which significantly hampers the chances of finding suitable matches for patients The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) has sounded a compelling call to young men across the country to step forward and register as stem cell donors. The urgent appeal is aimed specifically at young adult men aged 16 to 35, a demographic that is currently underrepresented in the registry. As the nation commemorates Youth Month, the SABMR hopes to inspire a wave of action from this critical age group. Despite being proven to yield better transplant outcomes and fewer complications, young men constitute a mere 8.9% of registered donors in South Africa. This figure falls starkly short of the global average of 39%, which can drastically hamper the chances of patients suffering from life-threatening blood cancers, especially within specific ethnic communities.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Local apprentice mechanic becomes lifesaving stem cell donor for patient in South America
ONE IN 100 000 MATCH: Bradley Peters (23), an apprentice mechanic from East London, has been identified as a stem cell donor match for a patient in South America. Peters signed up by chance during an awareness drive for the Matches on the Map campaign last year, making him the first confirmed match for a patient, not only in the country, but across the 64-country, 10-year voyage. The campaign is spearheaded by former transplant survivor, Robin Lewis and his wife Jolandie. Image: Supplied A YOUNG apprentice mechanic from East London who signed up as a stem cell donor by chance has become a 1 in 100 000 lifesaving match for a patient in South America. Twenty-three-year-old Bradley Peters is now the first confirmed match for a patient, not only in the country but across the 64-country, 10-year Matches on the Map campaign. The Matches on the Map inter-continental stem cell recruitment drive is spearheaded by former transplant survivor, Robin Lewis and his wife Jolandie who left Mpumalanga on their epic journey in September 2023. To date the campaign has garnered more than 1 000 eligible stem cell donor sign-ups to the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR). Peters signed up with the Matches on the Map team at an awareness drive last year. Nearly six months to the day, he received a call from the SABMR informing him that he was a potential match for a patient in far-flung South America. Peters, who went on to donate his stem cells, said he never thought that such a small act would result in potentially saving the life of another person 6500 km across the South Atlantic Ocean. 'When they called me… I had already forgotten that I had signed up to the SABMR. I had no idea that a cheek swab would be the beginning of saving someone's life. After I received the call, the SABMR set the wheels in motion to conduct the necessary testing to confirm whether I was a suitable match,' said Peters. Robin Lewis and his wife, Jolandie, pictured here with their custom-built truck, Betsy. The pair started on their intercontinental journey in September 2023, to find stem cell matches during their travels. Lewis was diagnosed with Fanconi Anaemia, a genetic DNA repair disorder that can lead to bone marrow failure, leukaemia and or solid tumours in the body. He successfully underwent a stem cell transplant in 2018, which completely changed his outlook on life. Image: Supplied The chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor match for any patient is 1 in 100 000 and the odds increase even further based on ethnicity. The donor pool in South Africa is unfortunately not reflective of the country's population, meaning that the chance of finding a donor for patients of colour is near impossible. Deputy director for the SABMR, Jane Ward, said additional stem cell donor sign-ups to the registry means that more lives can be saved not only in South Africa, but abroad as well. 'Only 30% of people are lucky enough to find donors in their family, while the remaining 70% must look elsewhere for a match.'Despite access to nearly 43 million registered donors globally through the World Marrow Donor Association, many patients in desperate need still do not find a suitable donor with a matching tissue type. The more donors we have, the more patients we can help. We are honoured to have been able to secure a match within South Africa to give this patient a second chance at life,' Ward explained. Peters said while his family was initially sceptical about him donating his stem cells due to not understanding the procedure, they were fully behind him. He said if he could do it again, he would do so in a heartbeat. 'Once I explained to them that it was not invasive and that it would not harm me in any way, but rather save someone's life, I had their full support. I still can't believe that I was part of something this special, I have always wanted to give back in some way, I never thought that this would be my fate. Every day is another chance to be a better person and if I could do it, so could anyone else.' The Matches on the Map team is currently in Namibia, after which they will be off to Angola, where the SABMR will be assisting with a translator and an additional team member to help recruit stem cell donors. Lewis said finding a match en-route is a dream come true. Lewis was diagnosed with Fanconi Anaemia, a genetic DNA repair disorder that can lead to bone marrow failure, leukaemia and or solid tumours in the body. He underwent a stem cell transplant in 2018. 'Finding our first match in Bradley has hugely motivated us to keep pushing onwards. We've been on the road for the last 19 months and held successful recruitment drives in Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa, and we're currently traversing our fourth country, Namibia. This has by far been the highlight of our project.' Lewis said if it wasn't for a breakdown of their custom-built motor home, 'Betsy', they would never have met Peters in East London or known that he would have been a suitable donor match. 'While Betsy was being repaired, we found ourselves living in the workshop for more than two weeks, working alongside technicians to fix her up. Since the start, we were confident that the entire 10-year project, including the four years it took to build the truck, would all be worth it, if we found one match. We were extremely grateful and humbled when this happened within our first year and in our home country.'
