THE SUNFLOWER FUND–FAQ’s
What does The Sunflower Fund do?
The Sunflower Fund’s MISSION is to educate and register stem cell donors. We fundraise to cover the recruitment costs to grow a healthy, effective, ethnically diverse South African Bone Marrow Registry of committed donors.
Where do the funds get used?
In carrying out its activities THE SUNFLOWER FUND raises funds which are used:
- To pay for the DNA tissue-typing tests of new donors. This costs The Fund R2000 per person to join the Registry.
- To promote public awareness of leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders through education and similar programmes.
- To recruit donors for the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).
- To assist, where possible, in meeting the costs of certain searches of the National Registry database.
Why are bone marrow stem cell transplants necessary?
Each year thousands of people with bone marrow diseases reach a stage where their only hope of survival is a stem cell transplant from a donor who shares the same tissue type.
Bone marrow, found in the centre of all large bones, is where new primitive blood cells, known as stem cells, are produced. Stem cells develop into mature blood cells: white cells (needed to fight infection), red cells (needed to carry oxygen to and remove waste from organs and tissues) and platelets (which are needed to stop bleeding).
When essential bone marrow is destroyed by disease or by the treatment to eradicate leukaemia, stem cell transplantation from a matching donor provides the greatest chance of recovery. The donor’s healthy stem cells are infused into the patient’s blood stream and if accepted (engrafted) begin producing normal blood cells. Success cannot be guaranteed, a transplant may offer a last chance.
How does one become a bone marrow stem cell donor?
The Sunflower Fund is responsible for the education and recruitment of stem cell donors onto the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) in an effort to offer HOPE to patients suffering from leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders.
If you are interested in becoming a donor, call the toll free number on0800 12 10 82. The Sunflower Fund will give you all the information you need, go through some important medical criteria and take your details. Also visit for more info.
You will be registered telephonically and then directed to the closest testing centre to have two small tubes of blood drawn. Your details will remain on the SABMR until the age of 60.
What are the general prerequisites (in terms of one’s health) to become a stem cell donor?
- You must be in excellent health and aged between 18 and 45.
- No history of Hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases.
- You should weigh at least 50 kg and have a Body Mass Index under 40.
- Preferably but not necessarily be a blood donor.
- You must be committed to helping anyone and not just the patient who motivated you to join.
How is the test done to register as a donor?
It is a simple blood test where only 2 test tubes of blood are drawn from your arm. Your blood is then processed by the laboratory and the result is sent to the SABMR. You will be sent your donor card and you are then officially a registered potential stem cell donor who may save one’s life in the future.
Explain importance of ethnic origin when finding a match?
Ethnic origin is of paramount importance. In a nutshell, we all have an ethnic background and origin as the ‘markers’ that are tested when searching for a match are genetically inherited and often unique to a particular race.
When a patient is searching for a match, they are looking for a “genetic twin” - someone who carries the same genetic markers as their own and this will be unique to their particular race. So it is almost impossible for an Indian person to match a White person, a Black person cannot match an Asian person and so on. When doing a search, we would only look in your ethnic group and it is purely DNA based.
The South African Bone Marrow Registry does not represent the population demographics for South Africa and roughly only 20% of the registry is people of colour. This means that patients of colour have very little hope of finding a match. Due to our unique mixes, there is an urgent need to increase the number of potential donors of colour from all ethnic groups and mixed ethnic backgrounds.
If we were lucky enough to have an identical twin, we would have a perfect match.
What is the possible “match” ratio?
There is a 1 in 4 chance of having a sibling that matches. But for 70% of patients they are not this fortunate and have to look on the Registry for an unrelated donor. The odds of finding a matching donor are 1:100 000 within their ethnic group, which means that people of all races need to become donors so that patients from all ethnic groups are afforded the opportunity to undergo a transplant.
Shortage of male donors
Only 39.8% of the donors currently on the South African Bone Marrow Registry are male. Inadequate access to males is a serious problem because:
- Males are generally able to provide adequate quantities of stem cells that are required for transplant.
- Males are much less likely to suffer from anaemia, a condition which would prohibit a person from being able to donate.
- It is not possible to donate stem cells during and up to one year after pregnancy.
What happens if you are then a match for a patient?
The medical procedure for obtaining stem cells from the blood is called a harvest. If you were asked to donate, you would be required to attend a specialist harvest centre in South Africa. A full medical examination will be carried out and if you are still agreeable, growth factor (G-CSF)* injections will be administered. These will increase the production of the stem cells in the bone marrow. These excess stem cells enter the bloodstream from where they are harvested using a cell separator machine. This minor medical procedure with minimal discomfort entails you being connected to the machine by an intravenous line (similar to donating blood or platelets) for 4 – 6 hours, possibly on two consecutive days.
The precious stem cells are filtered out of your blood and your own blood then returned to you.You will relax in bed with meals and TV to keep you entertained and are taken care of by expert staff - while waiting for the stem cell bag to fill up.
That bag of stem cells is given to the patient that will give that patient HOPE for a longer and healthier life.
You are able to go home immediately afterwards. The harvest will take place in a private ward and the donor is usually admitted for the night preceding the harvest as this has proved to be most comfortable and convenient, particularly if the donor is from out of town.
Is it painful?
It is very important to know that this process DOES NOT involve drilling into one’s bones. It is a minor procedure similar to donating blood or platelets.
What can individuals expect from this process?
Registering as a stem cell donor is quick and virtually painless. If you are ever found to be a match to a patient the process to harvest the stem cells is much like a blood transfusion and it takes 4 to 6 hours. It is not an invasive operation or lumber puncture. It is as pain free as donating blood.
Are there any costs involved for the donor?
There are no costs for the donor.
The Sunflower Fund raises funds to pay for the donor tests, but does depend largely on donations from the public. We ask all donors to consider donating towards the test if they are in a position to do so. The full test now costs The Sunflower Fund R2000. We would be extremely grateful for any donations towards testing costs.
What are the statistics? How dire is the need for more donors and how long are the waiting lists?
Thousands of South Africans are diagnosed with life-threatening blood disorders, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and aplastic anaemia, every year. Many of these will require a life-saving stem cell transplant.
There is a 1 in 4 chance that a sibling may be a match but for 70% of patients this will not be the case and they will have to search the national database for their life saving donor match. . There are just over 71 000 donors on the SABMR and the odds of finding a donor are 1:100 000.
How do you prepare yourself physically for it?
Generally you have to be in excellent health with no history of hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases. You will receive a full medical prior to your donation. It’s important to understand that registering as a stem cell donor and actually donating stem cells are two different processes. You will only donate stem cells if you are ever found to be a match for someone.
Are there any side effects for the donor?
Sibling transplants have been taking place for over 30 years; a short term side effect is flu-like symptoms during G-CSF stimulation; some donors have also reported mild bone pain.
How should you take care of yourself following a donation?
If you are ever a match to a patient and you have done your stem cell harvest, you can go home from the hospital on the same day.
What does the actual donation involve – in terms of time; discomfort; pain; side effects; and time needed to recuperate before being able to work, exercise etc as per usual?
Before the harvest, the donor receives a thorough medical examination. The donor is made comfortable and apheresis is performed by nurses. The harvest process can typically take 4 to 6 hours as blood travels through a needle out of the one arm through a machine called a cell separator, which separates and collects the life-saving stem cells into a small bag. Your blood is returned back to you via your other arm. (A donor may need to donate on two consecutive days.)
How can the public help and get involved with The Sunflower Fund?
They can become stem cell donors by calling our toll free number 0800 12 10 82 (weekdays between 08h30 – 16h30). They must meet donor criteria and be in excellent health and aged between 18 – 45 years old.
They can make a financial donation to assist us in paying for the donor tests:
Bank: ABSA
Account name: The Sunflower Fund
Account number: 405183 4719
Branch code: 632005
Reference: Donation and Surname
There is no such thing as a small donation – every little bit helps us save more lives.
They can support our regional events and all South Africans can support Sunflower Day on 16th September 2016.
All funds raised will go towards recruiting and testing new donors onto the Registry.