GLENWOOD High School pupil, Chase Tanner was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2012 at the age of 15 after experiencing symptoms of tiredness, weight loss and an aching body.
He went into remission after one stage of chemotherapy but has unfortunately relapsed. Chase desperately needs to find a bone marrow stem cell donor match in order to survive and the chances of finding a donor match are 1:100 000 within your ethnic group. Both his siblings have been tested and neither of them are a match for him.
“It only takes two test tubes of blood to become a donor and if you are a successful match, the donor process is as painless as donating blood,” explains Stephanie Berry, PR Manager for The Sunflower Fund in KwaZulu Natal. “Bone marrow is no longer surgically removed but additional white blood cells are harvested directly from the blood stream much like donating blood or platelets. Donors must however be aware that they are joining the Registry to help any patient in need of a transplant.”
Berry continued, “Anyone not able to donate towards the cost of their test will be placed on a waiting list and when funds become available their forms will be sent to them. It costs The Sunflower Fund R2 000 to tissue type each blood sample before the results can be included on the South African Bone Marrow Registry which is why The Sunflower Fund does extensive fundraising. A contribution towards this tissue typing cost, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.”
Chase loves camping and photography and spending time with his friends. When asked whether he had a message for the public, Chase responded “I would like everyone to register as bone marrow stem cell donors as you could be mine or someone else’s only chance of survival. You could be contributing to a life of new dreams for me”.
Visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za or phone toll free on 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm to find out more information about becoming a bone marrow stem cell donor. The donor liaison will go through the donor requirements and you will then be directed to your closest blood clinic to donate.
