Cape Town – Every 72 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or rare blood disorder in South Africa, with 4000 people losing their lives to these diseases annually.
In light of World Blood Cancer Day, recognised annually on the 28th of May to raise awareness for those suffering from blood cancer, the Cape Town Spurs F.C joined DKMS Africa, a stem cell donor registry dedicated to the fight against blood cancer by signing up to their Soccer Heroes Programme.
The day began early with formal proceedings and sharing information about DKMS Africa’s work in South Africa and globally.
“The Soccer Heroes Project isn’t just about scoring goals on the field, it’s about using a sport we all love to pursue a common objective – transforming communities into vessels of hope,” said the Head of Community Engagement and Communications, Palesa Mokomele.
“We thank Cape Town Spurs F.C who, for years has nurtured talent, moulded the country’s best sportsmen and transformed communities in Cape Town and countrywide – for so enthusiastically joining us for this venture.”
The Head of Communications at Spurs, Thabiso Mekuto lauded the collaboration.
“The opportunity to work with DKMS and make a profound impact on the lives of blood cancer patients has revealed the often unspoken burden of cancer and blood cancer that lives in our communities. Our call, as a team, is “If not us then who?” he said.
Joining the day’s activities was Owami Mbhele, a 26-year soccer enthusiast from Johannesburg who is searching for a donor following an Aplastic Anaemia diagnosis four years ago.
Owami had to halt his soccer ambitions when he started feeling exhausted after soccer matches.
Wishing to play the sport he loves, he got a chance to train with the team. Also joining him was Cape Town based stem cell donor, 26-year-old Amahle Nkomo, who donated stem cells to a patient in need last year.
The World Blood Cancer Day soccer clinic featured the Langa Royal Titans who trained alongside Cape Town Spurs. The event was graced by the presence of renowned soccer legends such as Tyren Arendse and Shaun Bartlett.
“We are extremely touched by the work that the organisation does and urge all soccer teams to rally behind this call,” concludes Mekuto.
Images: Supplied.
