Israel turns 61…and Shula gives the gift of life

For 15 years, Shula Endrey-Walder has utilised community spirit on Yom Ha’atzmaut to raise awareness about Jews facing certain death from leukaemia unless suitable bone-marrow donors can be found.

Tonight will be no exception at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse where Andrey-Walder, the founder of Gift of Life Australia, will be on hand to test the blood of community members celebrating Israel’s 61st birthday in the hope that DNA results may produce suitable matches for Jewish leukaemia patients in need of a stem cell transfusion.

Although statistics show that there is higher chance of a match from those within the same ethnic community, the odds of finding a suitable donor remain around 50,000 – 1.

Shula is looking for willing volunteers to be tested from within the 18-45 years age group. The results will be added to the Australian Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Registry.

Quoting from the Talmud, Endrey-Walder told J-Wire: “He who saves one life…it is as if he has saved the entire world.”

If you are unable to have joined in the celebrations at Randwick, contact J-Wire and we will put you in touch with Shula.