The third edition of Szpikolada is behind us. Below we publish the letter we received from the community of Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Zawodowych im. mjra Henryka Sucharskiego in Bolesławiec:
The third edition of Szpikolada, an initiative of Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Zawodowych, ended in tremendous success. Nearly 500 potential donors were registered among residents of the town and surrounding area, approximately 11 litres of blood were collected, and more than PLN 5,000 was raised in a public collection for a boy suffering from leukemia.
Therefore, the organizers of Szpikolada would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. First of all, we thank the volunteers for preparing and carrying out this initiative. We would like to thank Mr Dariuszowi Kwaśniewskiemu – the Bolesławiec County Governor – for granting Szpikolada honorary patronage.
We extend our thanks to the Regional Blood Donation Centre in Wałbrzych, representatives of the Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donors Foundation, and the Board of the Bolesławiec District Branch of the Polish Red Cross.
We thank Ms Małgorzacie Karolinie Piekarskiej – a journalist and writer – for preparing lectures and thematic presentations for young people.
Many thanks to all participants in the First Run for Bone Marrow, organized jointly with MKS Bolesłavia. The initiative aimed to promote and popularize the idea of bone marrow transplantation and running as a form of physical activity. Nearly 150 people took part.
We warmly thank all the artists for the wonderful performances that enhanced Szpikolada. We welcomed:
- Municipal Public Kindergarten No. 7 in Bolesławiec
- Municipal Public Kindergarten No. 4 in Bolesławiec
- Powiatowy Zespół Szkół i Placówek Specjalnych w Bolesławcu
- University of the Third Age
- Bolesławiecki Ośrodek Kultury-Międzynarodowe Centrum Ceramiki
- Youth Cultural Centre
- the “Jutrzenka” ensemble
- the Capoeira Gerais group and ZSOiZ students.
We thank all donors and partners. We were able to conduct our campaign at the County Office, in all upper-secondary schools, on TV Azart Sat, at the Military Recruitment Office, at Hörrmann, in three BZ WBK branches, in Tesco, Kaufland, Carrefour and Bricomarche stores, and at City Center Bolesławiec – for which we are extremely grateful. We thank the following for their substantive and financial support: DKMS Foundation, Dar Życia Foundation, ZOZ Bolesławiec, Neograf Printing House, Hörrmann, BZ WBK, Centrum Techniczne in Chocianów, OVB, Prexpol of Szczawno-Zdrój, the County Police Headquarters, U Janiny Guesthouse, and the bakeries of the Kruk, Brzozowski and Berezowski families.
We extend our thanks to the local media, especially Telewizja Lokalna Azart Sat – the media patron – for promoting and reporting on Szpikolada.
See you at Szpikolada 2015
The ZSOiZ community
Zbigniew Herbut, one of the organizers and coordinators of Szpikolada, on the myth surrounding bone marrow transplantation (a statement from a year ago):
A bone marrow donor may be a person who is:
- between 18 and 50 years of age
- responsible and aware that they may be asked to donate bone marrow even several dozen years after registration
- healthy, with no history of cancer, hematological or immunological diseases, and not carrying HIV, HBs or HCV (hepatitis B or C)
- meeting requirements similar to those for blood donors.
When registering, you must have a document bearing your PESEL number with you.
A person is permanently disqualified from donating bone marrow by:
- HIV infection (or belonging to a group at increased risk of infection with the virus)
- the presence of HBs antigen or anti-HCV antibodies with HCV RNA present (the presence of HBc antibodies and a past type A virus infection are acceptable)
- active tuberculosis within the past five years
- diabetes requiring antidiabetic medication
- active asthma requiring medication (if the candidate has not had an asthma attack in the past five years and takes no medication, they may qualify).
(information: ZSOiZ Bolesławiec/ii)