A record 100 hikers met in icy conditions at the base of Sani Pass on Sunday, 19 June to participate in this year’s Jade Sky Hike. The hike was in support of patient, Nonnie Dedekind who faces far greater challenges as she battles cancer.
In the photo: Stephanie Berry, Sue Hudson and Ryan Berry
Organisers Ian and Mandy Tyrer initiated this hike in 2007 to raise funds for nine-year-old Jade Preston who was diagnosed with leukaemia and to raise awareness for The Sunflower Fund. Sadly, Jade lost her battle, but the event continues to be an annual tribute to her. The route has changed slightly and now starts at the Sani Pass border post and on to the Highest Pub in Africa, situated in Lesotho and back.
The only requirements are a passport and the R50 entry fee. Hikers, carrying sunflowers in remembrance of a loved one suffering from or who has suffered cancer, braved the freezing conditions as they ascended the 1 000m climb to the Highest Pub in Africa.
Despite the unfavourable conditions the amazing scenery was captured on camera and many new friendships were formed.
This year, the organisers chose The Sunflower Fund as the sole beneficiary and an amazing R12 700 was raised, which will be used to tissue type new bone marrow stem cell donors for inclusion on the South African Bone Marrow Registry. The more donors on the Registry the more hope children and adults diagnosed with leukaemia have of finding their 1:100 000 donor match.
How is it done?
Many people are not aware that it only takes two test tubes of blood to join the Registry and that if you are a perfect donor match for a leukaemia patient, bone marrow is not surgically removed. The process to donate bone marrow stem cells is much like donating blood but can take 4 to 6 hours.
“It costs The Sunflower Fund R2 000 to test the blood of every person who joins the Registry. If you are able to donate towards the cost of the test it is much appreciated otherwise donors can ask to be sponsored by The Sunflower Fund. They will then be placed on a waiting list,” explains Stephanie Berry, PR Manager for The Sunflower Fund in KwaZulu Natal.
It is very unlikely that a patient will find a donor match outside their ethnic group so in South African we need to recruit at least 100 000 donors from each of the four prominent ethnic groups (black, coloured, indian and white). Currently there are only 65 000 donors on the Registry.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 50, weigh over 50kgs with no history of sexually transmitted diseases and would like to find out more about becoming a bone marrow stem cell donor to help anyone suffering from a life-threatening blood disorder please contact The Sunflower Fund toll free 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.
The Sunflower Fund would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Jade Sky Hike.
For more information, visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za
