Bone Marrow Transplant

We still need to find a bone marrow donor:

After more than 2 months of testing in South Africa, we are no nearer to a match than when we started – despite hundreds of people having their blood tested for possible matches.

It looks like we’re going to have our best chance in Germany and I’ll be in contact with the Bone Marrow Foundation to find out the exact details and procedures regarding this step.

But, remember, even if you weren’t a match for Damian, by having your tissue type recorded with the bone marrow registry, you may have the opportunity to save another life, of somebody else’s child who is just as precious to them.

However, Damian still needs funds urgently to be able to afford the treatment. The doctors are talking along the lines of R1m for the operation alone. I don’t know what the exchange rate is going to do to the cost of the bone marrow donation (the harvesting and transport process is a separate cost) - I’m sure the Foundation will let me know, as soon as we’ve identified a match.

But it seems my initial estimate of R300,000 may have been a bit conservative.

The last couple of months have seen us doing almost anything and everything to raise funds for the treatment, and we have the following events set up to take place around the country:

Friday 7 November – Golf Day at Old Mutual Golf Course in Pinelands, Cape Town
Thursday 13 November – Men’s Night at Summerwood Estate in Bloemfontein
Monday 17 November – Golf Day at Zwartkops Golf Course in Pretoria
Thursday 11 December – Golf Day at Royal Johannesburg Golf Course

Each of these events will be combined with an auction of memorabilia/wine/art and the like to try ensure a greater deal of success.

We will be grateful for any kind of support – whether you are able to play, attend, donate an item or 2 to the auctions, buy an item or 2 at the auctions, etc. Your contribution will be tremendously appreciated.

We are also running an SMS competition with a Laptop up as a prize, in conjunction with a Raffle. Please let me know if you are able to and would like to sell Raffle tickets on Damian’s behalf (commission can be negotiated)

Finally, I am having t-shirts and caps made with this logo and will be selling these from the website, as well as through agents at R99 per shirt and R49 per cap. They are good quality items and decent value for money. I expect to have them by the end of next week and will put pictures up on the site.
As far as the Trust Fund is concerned, this has now been registered (Trust No.1119/08) and the account details are as follows:

Account Name: The Damian Kriedemann Bone Marrow Trust
Branch - FNB Bloemfontein
Branch Code: 23-01-34
Account number: 62198244552

The fund is administered by the CMS Metric Financial Services (Pty) Ltd, a company that has been operating for more than 10 years with branches in Gauteng and Bloemfontein.

Damian’s own account is, however, still open should you wish to transfer directly to him

Damian Kriedemann
Standard Bank Ladybrand
Acc no: 247393851

To contact us:

Tel/Fax: +27 (0) 51 924 5883

E-mail: damian@damianthetiger.co.za