Earlier this year, one of our Year 11 students was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and was admitted to hospital for treatment, where they have remained as an inpatient since April. When it was determined that a Bone Marrow Transplant was required, they were fortunate to find a donor match in Great Britain and the transplant has since taken place, utilising stem cells from a complete stranger who was willing to be on the donor registry.
Throughout this journey towards recovery, the family’s wish was to highlight the fact that it is because of those brave people who are willing to be on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and those who give blood, that optimism for a positive outcome has drastically improved.
This week our Year 11 cohort are promoting CanTeen, the Leukaemia Foundation, blood donation, and the Bone Marrow Donor Registry in the secondary campus, with the aim to encourage everyone to support these wonderful organisations, particularly by considering becoming blood donors or joining the Bone Marrow Registry.
Secondary students can help by purchasing a $5 CanTeen Bandanna and supporting the Cake Stall and sausage sizzle being held on Friday 1 November ($4 sausage and drink; vegetarian options available).
Families can also help by attending Busselton’s ‘Light the Night’ event being held on 23 November. Ambassadors for this local event are the Roberts Family, whose son Ollie (4yrs) was diagnosed with Leukaemia over 12 months ago and will be attending Kindy at MacKillop next year. His big sister Indiana is currently in Pre Primary.
The greatest need, however, is for people to donate blood and/or join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Links for information about how you can become a donor are listed below.
Donate Blood: https://www.donateblood.com.au/blood-donor-centre/bunbury-donor-centre
Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry https://www.abmdr.org.au/
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