‘Bloodwise Scotland’ Community Group Launches in Dumfries and Galloway

A new community group have started to fund raise for the registered charity “Bloodwise Scotland”. Their first event will be a Quiz night on the 7^th February in The Kings Arms Hotel in Lochmaben.

Irene Charfadi told DGWGO “This event to start our Community Fundraising Group is in memory of my son Moncef “MONY” Charfadi who died aged 33 from a rare form of blood cancer called Burkett’s Lymphoma. He was educated at Hightae Primary school and then Lockerbie Academy, SW University at the Dumfries Campus before forging a career in mental health nursing, where he held the position of Charge Nurse at Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow.

His illness from diagnosis to his death was only 4 weeks, which to our family his friends and colleagues was totally devastating. Since his death we are tried to raise the profile, awareness the importance of a quick diagnosis, the importance of being a blood donor and possibly being a stem cell donor.

We also backed a campaign through Scottish Parliament on getting Doctors to recognise the symptoms and act quickly to recognise these symptoms by better training. Couple of local MPs responded to our request and a question was raised in the Scottish Parliament. The campaign is still on going and if you contact Bloodwise Head Office a link can be given.

At the last count there was 137 different types of Blood cancer and it is the 3^rd biggest cancer killer, it mainly affects children, teenagers and young adults and can also be found more in elderly patients.

The money the Dumfries and Galloway Community Group raises will be invested in research into blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as patient support services for those affected by the disease.”

Siobhan Handley, Deputy Director of Public Fundraising and Individual Giving at Bloodwise, says: “Thanks to Community Groups like the Dumfries and Galloway Community Group, we can continue to fund research projects that will find more effective and less harsh treatments for blood cancer, a disease which kills more people each year than breast or prostate cancer. We are incredibly grateful to them for taking on this challenge and to all those who have donated in support of them so far.”

volunteers are also sought to make this group to spread the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway please contact:

Irene Charfadi on 07793738754

About Bloodwise

Bloodwise is the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity dedicated to improving the lives of patients. Around 40,000 people of all ages, from children to adults, are diagnosed with blood cancers and related disorders every year in the UK. For more information visit bloodwise.org.uk