On the 20th of November 2022, 47 cyclists from Johannesburg, will be taking part in the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg. Pedalling for a purpose, the group aims to support the South African Bone Marrow Registry in raising funds for their Patient Assistance Programme. 

To date, the SABMR has helped save the lives of 586 patients with life-threatening blood disorders by matching them with healthy, unrelated bone marrow donors from South Africa and the rest of the world.

Currently, there are 39 million registered donors worldwide and counting. Ethnicity plays a vital role in finding a donor as you’re most likely to find a donor within your own ethnic grouping. South Africa is a prime and unique example of mixed inherited diversity, making it even more difficult to find a suitable match for a patient in need.

A patient has a 1 in 100 000 chance of finding a suitable donor match. These odds are even further reduced for patients of colour to 1 in 400 000 as there is a lack of donors of colour not only on our local registry but globally.  Hence, encouraging everyone who is eligible to sign up and donate to give patients a second chance at life.

“Bone marrow-related diseases is not a mystery, it is a solvable challenge. There are however many patients in need of stem cell transplants to offer them the best chance of survival. The solution: we must get everyone in the world on a registry to give them the best chance. Starting in South Africa.” – says Dr Charlotte Ingram

As a non-profit public benefit organisation, the SABMR relies heavily on financial donations to cover the costs of donor recruitment which costs around R2000 per swab test kit. 

Each kit needs to be sent to an international laboratory for tissue typing before the results are placed on the SABMR’s database, to which donor registries around the world have access. 

As part of the SABMR’s fundraising efforts, 47 cyclists from South Africa have signed up to provide financial support assistance to families unable to cover the costs of finding a donor.

Cycling a distance of 97km, the champions have raised over R58 000 collectively towards a target of R150 000y by crowdfunding on BackaBuddy, to cover the costs of 50 swab test kits, used to recruit new donors and expand the SABMR database.

Meet a few of the cyclists at the 94.7 Ride Joburg

Cycling to support the SABMR for the second time, Reece Duthie from Johannesburg, is taking on the 94.7  in hopes to highlight the importance of donor recruitment. He hopes to raise R1000, with more donors coming on board to congratulate him for his achievement.

“Being able to raise funds for the SABMR is a blessing to me – I am fit and healthy enough to be able to push my body. The role that the SABMR plays in the lives of cancer patients is one that signifies hope and courage. With the awareness and funds that I’ve helped in raising, I hope that the SABMR continues their mission of touching the lives of people who need it the most.” – says Reece

Last year, Geoffrey Brink cycled the 94.7 for the first time and raised over R7000 to help expand SABMR’s registry. This year, he hopes to raise an additional R5000 to support the SABMR and their life-saving mission.

“I got roped into riding this event last year and I discovered a biker gang that I never knew existed. Some say it takes courage to stick to the plan, but courage I do not have. Instead I ride this race, a journey if you will, for a cause that has courage and a plan to deliver greatness and joy to many other South Africans, that I cannot.  Come 20 November 2022, I will be joining this biker gang, called the “Fat Tyre Gang” on our journey around the 011 for a great cause and in search of a great time”  –Geoffrey Brink

To support one of the SABMR’s 47 cyclists on Backabuddy, make a donation here:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/groups/Virgin-Active-947-Ride-Joburg-SABMR-2022

*All funds raised will be managed by the SABMR. Donors will also be eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by the organisation.

Become a Bone Marrow donor

According to SABMR, Head of Sustainability and National Operations Kamiel Singh, there are currently only 74 000 donors registered on the SABMR’s database to cater to over 59.3 million South Africans.

“Every year, hundreds of South Africans with blood diseases such as leukemia reach the point where their only chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant. For about 30% of patients, a matched donor can be found in their own family; for the other 70%, their only hope is to find a matched unrelated donor identified by the SABMR.” – says Head of Sustainability and National Operations, Kamiel Singh.

You can Register to become a Bone Marrow donor, by clicking here:

https://sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor/