City firefighters take hands with DKMS to save more lives | City firefighters take hands with DKMS to save more lives | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town’s firefighters have once again joined hands (Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei) DKMS, previously known as the Sunflower Fund, to fight blood cancer and blood disorders. The campaign, which kicked off yesterday 1 July, aims to recruit firefighters as stem cell donors and encourage residents to join them in the fight.<br></p> | <span><p>The initial campaign started in 2019 when one of the firefighters, who has since retired, was diagnosed with blood cancer.</p><p>His colleagues were encouraged to help save his life by registering as stem cell donors. The campaign was halted during the pandemic, but has now been revived.</p><p>DKMS, an international NGO, will host a series of presentations at fire stations to create awareness and education about blood cancer and blood disorders and recruiting firefighters as stem cell donors to help save lives. <br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DKMS%20x%20Fire%20Services_01072024-01.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:951px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>'Our firefighters are known for their selflessness and bravery in saving lives from fires. They are kicking it up a notch by registering and being donors to save even more lives. Every 72 minutes a family in South Africa receives tragic news that a loved one is diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder.</p><p>'In most cases, a stem cell transplant is the only hope of cure for many patients. The more donors on the registry the better chances patients have of finding their genetic twin and receiving a transplant,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>The campaign kicked off in Goodwood yesterday and firefighters were joined by the Safety and Security Portfolio chairperson, Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe.</p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DKMS%20x%20Fire%20Services_01072024-14.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:951px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>'We can all be heroes and join the firefighters in becoming stem cell donors and saving lives. This adds value and life to our communities and in this way we all play our part in building a stronger city,' said Councillor Nqavashe.</p><p>DKMS Africa Head of Community Engagement and Communications, Palesa Mokomele said: 'True to their calling, our firefighters have once again shown us the true meaning of being heroes. While we mourn the firefighter who lost his life, we remain hopeful that we will find donors for every patient diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder and wish to thank the leadership for affording us this opportunity to create awareness and register more potential life savers'.</p><p>You can get involved through registering as a stem cell donor online at <a href="https://ddec1-0-en-ctp.trendmicro.com/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http://www.dkms-africa.org&umid=6460eafa-657f-4a39-aa54-53028256c4a7&auth=2ad3eefb43d42e4af99fdc07ba99e48e7318d45f-2ad1187a9f4f94f1da022e276c7a984c8e6e8789" target="_blank">www.dkms-africa.org</a> or for more information, call them on 021 701 0661.</p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DKMS%20x%20Fire%20Services_01072024-21.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:951px;" /> </figure><strong>End</strong></span><p><br></p> | 2024-07-01T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#f58faf55-8582-420e-ac46-eeb2f05bc6e6;L0|#0f58faf55-8582-420e-ac46-eeb2f05bc6e6|firefighter;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#6f151620-6b4e-43d5-a480-c88bdd869269;L0|#06f151620-6b4e-43d5-a480-c88bdd869269|awareness;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |