Four Turkish Cypriot donors gave four people a second chance at life by donating stem cells and lymphocytes.
Donors Erim Debreli, Fidan Özkarataş, Şenay Kambur and Güney Saramalı offered hope to patients in need, marking another milestone for the Kemal Saraçoğlu Foundation.
The Kemal Saraçoğlu Foundation for Children with Leukemia and the Fight Against Cancer announced that four donors have provided stem cell and lymphocyte donations to patients they were matched with.
According to the foundation’s statement, Erim Debreli, Fidan Özkarataş and Şenay Kambur, who registered with the donor archive years ago, donated stem cells, while Güney Saramalı donated lymphocytes.
Servet Özeralp, Coordinator of the Kemal Saraçoğlu Foundation, highlighted the significance of the motto, “It is a virtue to feel responsible without experiencing cancer yourself,” and expressed heartfelt gratitude to all volunteers who made donations.
“Since the year 2000, we have been collecting samples for the World Bone Marrow Bank in collaboration with the Karaiskakio Foundation. We collect blood or saliva samples from healthy individuals aged 18–45 who hold a TRNC Identity Card and have not previously registered for this purpose. Our mission extends to helping patients in need of bone marrow and stem cell transplants both in our country and around the world” said Özeralp.
He further revealed that, to date, 101 Turkish Cypriot donors have selflessly given the gift of life to patients in need, offering them a fresh start.
“Saving someone’s life while you are still alive is indescribable” said Özeralp and invited everyone to register as donors.brt
