WHEN Somerset Park resident and member of the SAPS Symona Govender was thinking of a way to honour her son Kai’s memory, she felt the perfect way was to host a blood drive.

Kai, who died in 2020, needed regular blood transfusions, and Govender felt the best way to pay it forward was to host the drive on Wednesday, July 10, at the Durban North Blood Donor Clinic at Kensington Square on Adelaide Tambo Drive.

Symona said the station commander and the members of the station were fully behind her initaitive to collaborate with the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).

Also read: Blood drive success at Our Lady of Fatima

She explained how the idea came to fruition.

“Kai’s birthday was coming up, and as a family, we didn’t get a chance to do anything for him before he passed away. I was thinking about what I could do in his honour, and the idea of a blood drive came to me. Kai was born premature in 2019 and passed away in 2020, one day after his first birthday. He was in hospital the whole time and sadly never came home. His death was in the midst of Level 5 lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Being born premature, Kai had a number of medical issues that required regular blood transfusions. He needed one nearly every week, and it became clear to me the importance of donating blood. That’s why this blood drive means so much to me; it’s a way of paying it forward and honouring his memory and that of the donors who give blood. The response I’ve received from the station members and the station commander has been incredible. They are fully behind the idea, and we hope this drive will be a success,” she said.

The station has set itself a minimum target of 15 pints for the day.

Also read: Donate platelets at Durban North SANBS

Durban North SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Nonhlanhla Shozi, said the drive was open to the public.

“We have also been lucky with the support from the station and the Durban North CPF. We are all aware of the shortage of blood across the country, and I urge the north Durban community to take some time out on the day and support our initiative. By donating blood, you are able to save as many as three lives. Donating blood can mean life-saving medical treatment for children, pregnant women, organ transplants and cancer treatments to name a few,” she said.

Important to remember

The Durban North police station, in collaboration with the SANBS, will host a drive on Wednesday, July 10, from 08:00 until 14:00, at the Durban North Blood Donor Clinic at Kensington Square on Adelaide Tambo Drive.

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.