Rotary van Ryn takes on Stem Cell project

Stem cell transplants are necessary to prolong the life of or cure patients with leukaemia.

The doctors at Alberts Cellular Therapy have formed an organisation, “ACT opportunity for new life”, with the aim of assisting those without funding to receive treatment, especially children.

The doctor’s practice is close to obtaining accreditation from the joint accreditation committee (Jacie), which will give them international status and the home will be managed under international standards.

Often those needing treatment do not have the funds for the treatment or medical aid, and government funding is not adequate to assist even a small percentage of sufferers.

Rotarian Brian Davey, while in hospital suffering from leukaemia, identified the need for assistance and suggested that Rotary help.

Brian passed onto higher service in November 2012.

As they believe this type of project fits perfectly within the Rotary area of focus, together with the doctors at ACT, the Rorarians have identified two areas where Rotary will be able to assist:

Due to the high cost of treatment (R46 000 is the minimum cost of pharmaceuticals alone, per transplant), Jacky Thompson, the doctor in charge, and her team have identified the need to own and manage a furnished home near to the hospital, where patients can live for the treatment period of approximately three months.

Treatment consists of evaluation, treatment and aftercare.

They will be treated as out-patients of the hospital, thus overcoming the high cost of hospitalisation and reducing treatment cost per transplant by 50 per cent.

The second area where Rotary Van Ryn aims to assist, is to purchase a specialised computer programme called Stem Soft, which is needed to provide cost effective treatment and aftercare.

This is available from Canada, but it is very expensive due to the specialised nature of the programme.

The requirement for the home is for a house to accommodate up to four patients, and possibly a parent.

This is envisaged to be in the region of between R1.5-million and R2-million to purchase.

The cost of the computer programme Stem Soft is approximately R800 000.

The Rotary team will make every endeavour to optimise the costs as much as possible, but they have targeted an amount of R3 000 000 to complete the project

A steering committee has been formed of Rotarians, Rotary Anns and doctors from the practice.

The ACT organisation has formed a trust to provide funds for all aspects of the transplant, not only the home and Stem Soft programme.

On completion of the project, the home and Stem Soft will be handed over to the ACT organisation to manage and fund the running costs.

They will also staff the home.

Due to the substantial amount of funds required, they will have to explore various avenues of funding.

On completion, the home will be called the “Brian Davey Home” in remembrance of the wonderful, caring Rotarian.

The Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn appeals to the public to donate money to the Rotary Stem Cell Transplant Project.

All donations, either corporate or private, will be acknowledged on a Memorial Wall which will be installed prominently at the Brian Davey Home.

A donation of R1 000 will purchase a brick with the benefactor’s name or, if the donor is a corporate, with the company’s name and logo.

Large donations will purchase proportionately sized bricks.

As the Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn is a non-profit and public benefit organisation, they can provide you with a letter for tax purposes if required.

For further information contact Bob Savage at bobjsavage@gmail.com.