[:en]In April and May 2025, the Social Impact Task Team (SITT) proudly hosted two impactful stem cell donor recruitment drives in collaboration with DKMS Africa, furthering our commitment to social outreach and the broader cause of public good. These drives were not just about science\u2014they were about solidarity, humanity, and hope.<\/p>\n
11 April 2025 \u2013 Save Baby Leo<\/strong><\/p>\n Our first donor drive, held on 11 April, was part of the heart-wrenching yet hopeful #SaveBabyLeo campaign. Baby Leo, an eight-month-old diagnosed with MECOM-associated syndrome\u2014a rare genetic disorder that prevents his bone marrow from producing blood cells\u2014urgently needs a stem cell transplant to survive. Our goal was to recruit 50 potential donors, and thanks to the incredible support of our community, we exceeded this with over 60 sign-ups. Each one of these new donors could be the life-saving match Leo desperately needs\u2014or the answer to hope for someone else in the world facing a similar battle. The success of this drive is a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of responding with empathy and urgency when our communities call for help.<\/p>\n 28 May 2025 \u2013 World Blood Cancer Day<\/strong><\/p>\n Our second drive, held on 28 May in honour of World Blood Cancer Day, aligned with DKMS\u2019s global slogan: \u201cWe Delete Blood Cancer.\u201d This drive took place at the Tygerberg campus student centre and was aimed more broadly at the student community. While we had hoped for greater numbers, we still successfully recruited 22 new donors\u2014and we know that every single sign-up matters. Each new donor expands the global registry and brings renewed hope to patients waiting for a match, reinforcing that no contribution is too small in the fight against blood cancers and disorders.<\/p>\n These initiatives are deeply rooted in our social outreach portfolio, where we as clinical researchers and scientists step forward\u2014not for research outputs, grants, or accolades\u2014but simply because it’s the right thing to do. This work allows us to build trust, demonstrate solidarity, and deepen our relationship with the communities we serve and work among.<\/p>\n Too often, science feels distant. Yet, the stem cell drives allowed us to reverse the roles: rather than collecting samples from patients for our work, we gave our time\u2014and our own samples\u2014for the benefit of others. It was a moment to humanise science, to step away from the lab bench, and to stand as people first, researchers second.<\/p>\n