Mpumalanga couple visits Richards Bay on stem cell awareness journey

After setting off some two months ago on a 10-year, 64-country journey spanning three continents, Mpumalanga residents Robin and Jolandie Lewis are visiting Richards Bay this week.

In their trusty converted fire truck they call Betsy, which runs on ‘used’ cooking oil, the couple aims to spread global awareness around the importance of stem cell donation.

They are at the Zululand Multi Sport Club this week, and are hosting campaigns today (Tuesday, 14 November) and tomorrow, as well as visiting schools to create awareness about the project.

They were given a warm welcome by City of uMhlathuze Deputy Mayor Christo Botha, who spent Tuesday morning learning more about their work and how the city and locals can support it.

Botha urged local businesses and community members to visit the mobile unit and sign up as donors, offer donations of used cooking oil, purchase the homeware items on sale, or contribute to their diesel and operational costs.

The husband-and-wife duo were inspired to take on this project following a successful stem cell transplant five years ago after Robin was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia – a genetic DNA repair disorder that may lead to bone marrow failure, leukaemia, or solid cancerous tumours.

After Robin’s transplant, the couple began planning the trip with the hope of helping others who find themselves in a similar situation – and that’s how Matches on the Map was born.

Their objective is to sign up thousands of donors in partnership with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) to not only boost the database, but help add diversity to it.

Only 35% of the SABMR donor base is presently of colour, which is not reflective of the demographic make-up of South Africa.

This limits the ability to find matches for patients who are of African or Indian descent.

The SABMR is assisting them with stem cell donor kits, as well as import and export logistics.“We appeal to corporates and the public to come on board and help us fulfil this dream of making a meaningful change in the lives of patients who require a stem cell transplant,” said Robin.

Matches on the Map will allow access to a diverse spectrum of donors, as ethnicity plays a huge role in finding donor matches, especially for patients of colour.

Visit Robin and Jolandie Lewis at ZMSC in Meerensee today and tomorrow to contribute to their cause.

Meanwhile, Felixton College pupils will also take their commitment to ‘Honour Others’ to heart.

Please stop at the Felixton College Dickson Oval on Thursday between 10am and 2pm to have a simple saliva swab taken, and meet the couple who are literally taking on the world in their quest to save as many lives as possible, while raising awareness surrounding the many ways your stem cells can save lives.

HAVE YOUR SAY