Hikers set their sights on Drakensberg peak to highlight the difficulties of finding blood stem cell donors
Clayton Coetzee, an adventurer and bone marrow donor from Cape Town, will climb the majestic Mafadi peak in the Drakensberg to raise awareness of blood disorders.In a bid to highlight the uphill battle faced by people living with life-threatening blood disorders, two hikers intend trekking up SA’s highest peak on the Drakensberg. Alicia Venter, search coordinator for the SA Bone Marrow Registry , said blood cancer cases have been increasing at a much faster pace that many other types of cancer.
“Once a patient’s HLA markers are identified, the search for a matching donor begins. Sadly, in many cases, matches aren’t found, which is partly due to a lack of donor diversity.“In SA, there is a dire need for donors of colour. When it comes to matching HLA types, a patient’s ethnicity plays an important role as HLA markers are inherited. Some ethnic groups have more complex tissue types than others.
“As a modern-day generation, caught up in fast-pace living, it’s easy to forget about those who are sick and vulnerable and need our help the most. When attempting a gruelling challenge, such as summiting a peak, we become acutely aware of how reliant we are on each other and how each life matters. “Extending beyond our boundaries or comfort zones – like climbing Mafadi – can be hard but imagine the indelible difference the act of becoming a donor can have on someone else’s life and their loved ones,” he said.
Raubenheimer said the hike involved a circular route that went through large mountains and was usually covered in five days of hard walking. But they would be attempting it in three days.
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