They’re calling it the ‘ultimate koha’.
New Zealand entertainer Pio Terei and his wife Deb are the founders of a charitable trust called ‘Trust Teina’, a charity started in loving memory of their beloved son Teina Terei who tragically lost his battle with Leukaemia at the age of 17.
Keen to save Māori and Pasifika lives by increasing bone marrow and organ donor registers in New Zealand, they’re holding a Blood Drive in Auckland on Saturday, April 6.
“By increasing participation in blood donation programs, we can ensure that more lives are saved and that our communities receive the support they need during times of illness and crisis,” Pio says.
“We are deeply passionate about continuing Teina’s legacy by advocating for increased blood and bone marrow donations.”
The focus of this initiative is to encourage more individuals with Māori and Pasifika backgrounds to become regular donors.
Current statistics show a significant under-representation with only 4,278 active Pacific Island donors in the last 2 years (that’s 3.46% of NZ Blood Service’s total active donor database).
But it’s not just blood donating that needs a boost – the bone marrow registry is in dire need of Pasifika donors as ancestry plays a big role in finding a match.
The blood drive will take place at Te Wananga Takiura, located at 120 Asquith Avenue in Mount Albert.
The Trust Teina blood drive welcomes individuals of all ages (must be 16 years old to donate blood) and backgrounds to participate and donate.
Those interested in contributing are encouraged to register in advance or simply drop by the event on Saturday.
For more information about Trust Teina and their initiatives follow this link or contact Deb Terei: [email protected] 021 799 265
