The Sunflower Fund

It only takes two teaspoons of blood to become a donor and if you are a match, the donor process is as painless as donating blood i.e. bone marrow is no longer surgically extracted from your hip bone but additional white blood cells are removed via the blood in the same way that platelets are harvested.

To become a possible match for Danaé or any other child in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant, contact The Sunflower Fund’s toll free call centre – 0800 12 10 82 and request a voucher/donor number to cover the tissue typing fee. The voucher/donor number will be posted to you for presentation to/at your nearest South African National Blood Service (SANBS) clinic.

Who Can Be A Bone Marrow Donor And How Is It Done?

• Donors must be between 18 – 50 years of age.
• Donors must be in general good health (with no history of hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases)
• Donors must weigh over 50kgs and preferably, but not necessarily, be a blood donor.
• It takes just two teaspoons of blood for the initial test, which is tissue typed and put on the register.
• Donors must be committed to help anyone.
• It is vitally important that potential donors realise they are joining the S.A. Bone Marrow Registry and could be called for anyone else needing a transplant, and not just the person who motivated them to join in the first place.