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Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank
Why does Western Australian need a Cord Blood Bank?
Despite the help of thousands of bone marrow and cord blood donors nationally and internationally, there are still hundreds of Australian patients searching for a suitable match for a life saving bone marrow transplant. There are currently no cord blood donations from this state represented on the national registry.
What will the Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank Provide?
The Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank Project will provide a facility for cord blood donation in Western Australia. Furthermore, it will enhance the national registry by providing unique tissue types which reflect those of our community. This will be a public cord blood program where mothers can give the cord blood freely for use without cost to patients with life threatening illnesses. Because cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord and placenta after delivery, there are no risks or ethical dilemmas for mothers and babies.
How is Rotary WA supporting the Cordblood Bank?
Rotary Clubs throughout Western Australia have not only provided in excess of $1 million dollars from their own fundraising efforts but have also obtained generous support from the WA community. Rotary applauds the generosity of the Mevé Beeliar Joint Venture, Lotterywest, Patrons and corporate and private sponsors who have helped raise in excess $4.8 million towards the construction of a cord blood facility in Western Australia. Fundraising will continue until the target of $6 million is achieved to provide funding for operating costs.
This project is Rotary’s special gift to the people of Western Australia in celebration of centenary in 2005. As well as providing greater access matched cord blood for life saving transplant treatments, the facility will be ideally placed to engage in new cord blood therapies of the future.
