Metropolitan Mar Seraphim rallies behind stem cell registration drive, leads awareness march

Indian Malankara Orthodox Church 
Liju Cherian-20/12/13

BENGALURU —In keeping with the Christmas spirit of helping the suffering, Indian Orthodox Metropolitan HG Dr Abraham Mar Seraphim has come out in support for a just cause. The young Shepherd who head the Bengaluru Diocese led the peripheral blood stem cell donor registration drive and registered his name along with others.

St Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral’s MGOCSM and OCYM unit in association with with Datri, a NGO, had organised the registration on December 15, Sunday, after the Holy Eucharist. The event took place at the Cathedral premises in which people irrespective of caste, creed actively took part.

Fr Joe, Assistant Vicar, St Gregorios Cathdedral, Hosur Road, Bengaluru, also registered himself at the screening, along with hundreds of members and youngsters.

The stem cell donor registration was held in favour of Mrs Nini Yohanan, wife of Jomy Yohanan, a a member of the Cathedral Church. Nini suffers from a rare form of blood cancer and is currently undergoing chemo for a second relapse of cancer. Doctors have recommended that she undergo a form of stem cell therapy as early as possible. She needs a donor whose stem cells will finally match hers. The registration drive was primarily conducted to find out the right person who can be of suitable match.

The Metropolitan has extended his sincere thanks and congratulated the Cathedral unit towards organising the drive in which about 254 registrations were undertaken. His Grace has urged all the other church units in the city to follow suit and hoped that all will take this a commitment for the New Year ahead.

Datri is the NGO which organised the event with the active support of all MGOCSM members of the Cathedral.

A non-profit organisation, Datri, that has been set up to help save lives of those suffering from life threatening disorders like leukemia, lymphoma and others. Currently there are 45,000 people registered with Datri which has facilitated 42 successful donations during the past 3 years.

Source:
Independent