ROTARY WA CLIMB FOR A SMILE




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		Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank Why a Cord Blood Bank Life is precious and thanks to advantages in science blood from the placenta and umbilical cord normally discarded after birth can now be a lifeline to someone else. Cord blood is rich in stem cells and in a small amount of cord blood their is sufficient stem cells to replenish a patients bone marrow, this could mean the difference of life and death to a child with Leukemia or with any of other malignant and generic blood diseases currently in WA we have 70 patients waiting and hoping for a suitable match. Cord blood stem cells should not be confused with embryonic stem cells. The Future Cord Blood transplants have opened up a new world of hope and promise for the seriously ill and may well in the future provide us with a cure for diabities, Parkinson disease, spinal cord repairs, liver failure and arthritis. It will take imagination and foresight to keep pace with modern medicine and the establishment of the Rotary Cord Blood Bank will help us take great strides to a better future. History To celebrate Rotary’s 100th birthday The Rotary Clubs of Western Australia came together to consider how Rotary could celebrate the occasion. Submissions were called for from Rotary Clubs, Probus Clubs and Inner Wheel. Of the fifty suggestions that were put forward and evaluated by a committee of eminent Western Australians formed under the chairmanship of Rotarian Con Michael, the now Governor of Western Australia. The Inner Wheels Clubs suggestion was that Rotary in West Australia raise 6 million dollars to build a free public Cord Blood Bank and also provide initial funding towards it’s operating costs this was chosen as the most beneficial to all West Australians. This Cord Blood bank will be managed by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and be located as an extension of their current building in Wellington St, construction is expected to start late this year. Rotary has raised $4.8 million dollars to date. With donations coming not only from rotary clubs but the corporate sector and private donations.