Donate blood, save a life
UKZN students are encouraging the public to join the South African National Blood Service this June in celebrating those who contribute to saving the lives of others.
JUNE is World Blood Donor Month and students from UKZN Howard College Campus, with the support of The Sunflower Fund and the South African National Blood Services (SANBS), are encouraging the public to donate blood and register as stem cell donors.
The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Month campaign is Blood connects us all. It focuses on thanking blood donors and highlights the dimension of sharing and connection between blood donors and patients.
The campaign aims to highlight stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, to motivate regular blood donors to continue giving blood, and encourage people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so, particularly young people.
It only takes two test tubes of blood to register as a potential stem cell donor on the SABMR but it costs R2000 to tissue type the blood samples to the required DNA level. The Sunflower Fund, responsible for the recruitment and growth of the SABMR, engages in extensive awareness and fundraising to pay for these costs for potential donors.
To donate R20 to this worthy cause, in support of World Blood Donor Month, SMS “SUNFLOWER” to 40555. (SMS charged at R20. Free sms’s do not apply).
Contact The Sunflower Fund toll free 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za for more information. .
