Giving life
25 volunteers, aged 18-45, gave blood at The Big Kitchen in Bondi for tissue typing in order to sign up for The Gift of Life world-wide registry of potential stem cells/bone marrow donors.
Shula Endrey-Walder tends to one volunteer
Pic: Josh Belifante
“We have had drives/testing sessions before “but this is a wonderful response” said Shula Endrey-Walder, Founder of the Gift of Life Australia program. “It is heartening to see so many young people turn up”.
The evening was spearheaded by Talia Levy. When she heard a family friend was in desperate need of a matching donor to cure his Leukaemia, Talia decided to get proactive and used social media to round up volunteers. The word spread and everyone who had committed to become a potential donor turned up on the night to be tested.
Most potential donors thought it would be a good idea and the “right thing” to participate. Even those who had never given blood before found that it was not quite as scary as they had imagined.
While not everyone personally knew of the Sydney father who is in dire need of a match, all felt if there was a possibility they could help save a life, then it was well worth the effort to get involved.
To find out how you can get on the registry and are healthy, 18-45 years old, 50kgs+, neither pregnant nor breast feeding, go to www.giftoflifeaustralia.org.au or contact [email protected]
