"We are extremely grateful for this generous donation. The money raised will go towards funding the essential medical research helping to treat sufferers of the condition."
June Kynoch, one of the organisers of DBA UK
Southdale, the national affordable housing and development specialist, has raised more than £5000 to the charity Diamond Blackfan Anaemia UK (DBA UK) to help it provide treatment for individuals with the extremely rare blood condition., the national affordable housing and development specialist, has raised more than £5000 to the charity Diamond Blackfan Anaemia UK (DBA UK) to help it provide treatment for individuals with the extremely rare blood condition.
Halifax-based Southdale engaged in numerous fundraising activities to raise the money for DBA UK including staff completing the Great North Run 2011 and the Coast to Coast Bike Ride.
£3,672.54 has been handed over to the charity, with a further £1,774 raised through the Just Giving website as part of the Great North Run fundraising.
Other fund raising activity included an internal football tournament, dress down days, coffee mornings and internal raffles.
Southdale decided to support the charity upon learning that one of its site managers, Kevin Tovey, had a nephew who had recently been diagnosed with the condition, which is characterised by an inability to produce red blood cells which are vital to transport oxygen around the body.
The condition is extremely rare, affecting approximately 125 people in the UK and only 600-700 worldwide. It requires intensive therapy and, unfortunately, there is no known cure.
Kevin’s nephew has had more than 30 blood transfusions in the first two and a half years of his life and the money raised by Southdale is going towards the necessary research which DBA UK are undertaking in an effort to develop treatments and, ultimately, discover a cure.
Bev Robinson, HR Director at Southdale, said: "Southdale are proud to have been involved in organising and taking part in fundraising activity which has benefitted Diamond Blackfan Anaemia UK’s research. We hope that the money will make a positive difference to the lives of those living with the condition.
"It is such a wonderful cause and we’d encourage as many people as possible to make a donation to help keep it running."
