Could you make $170 a minute? Chances are, not. But the Cochrane chapter of 100 Women Who Care were able to raise just over $10,000 in about an hour.
Although they’re not 100 strong (51 current members), these women who care raised funds for research on graft versus host disease (GVHD) – a complication that causes immune cells in transplanted tissue, such as stem cells or bone marrow, to attack the patient’s body cells. One hundred per cent of the money raised will support the research of Dr. Faisal Khan and Dr. Jan Storek at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.
“Donations help bring awareness and attention to diseases and health issues that, while may not be well known, are more common than many people think. Donations to research help lead to better patient outcomes,” said Pam Fawcett, senior director of development of the Cumming School of Medicine.
Once finalized, the money will be directed to two specific research projects and then clinical trials.
The goal of the study is to enhance the understanding of the disease complications, improve donor selection criteria and increase the life expectancy and quality of life for transplant recipients, Fawcett said.
For Judy Samson, cofounder of the Cochrane chapter of 100 Women Who Care, it was a pleasant surprise. The group’s goal is to have 100 members donating $100 each to make $10,000. With half of the “100” members, the Cochrane chapter was still able to reach over $10,000.
Samson said the format of the group, which meets four times a year for around an hour and donates all the money it raises, is what attracts its members.
“People want to give back, but in today’s world it’s really hard for people to find the time to give back. For a lot of charities it’s a huge time commitment number one, and number two, I think people like to see that 100 per cent of the money goes to the charity.
“It’s really only four hours commitment a year.”
Samson said because of the small size of the research group, they are heavily reliant on donations.
“They can keep the research going a little bit longer every time they get some more money, so it’s a huge impact on them.”
The chapter selected the Cumming School’s research effort out of a draw. At the yearly meetings, members listen to presentations from three charity groups pitching about their needs and their causes. The groups are then entered into the draw and one is randomly selected.
Dr. Khan’s research focuses on improving donor-patient matching to reduce GVHD in the first place, while Dr. Storek’s research focuses on reducing the incidence of developing GVHD after transplantation.
For more information, visit 100womencochrane.com or email [email protected].
