Northfield’s International High School is one of two international schools in Mauritius and is situated in the north of the island with 256 boys and girls aged from 11 -18 years. This year Northfields supported the Sunflower Fund’s National Bandana Day bringing the concept to Mauritius for the first time.  Mr. Barnes the headmaster heard of the wonderful achievements of The Sunflower Fund, raising awareness of bone marrow stem cell donation and increasing the number of potential donors on the South Africa Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) through one of the parents from South Africa. Committed to fostering the values of personal integrity, responsibility, compassion and generosity he was determined that the school should support this cause. A presentation was given by Phillippa Desveaux the school nurse on leukaemia, bone marrow stem cell donation and the importance of supporting a bone marrow registry. Pupils, staff and parents responded generously raising more than 24 000 Mauritian Rupees for the Sunflower Fund. On the day, the pupils proudly wore their colourful bandanas either on their heads, around their necks or on their wrists and have a much greater understanding of leukaemia and bone marrow stem cell donation. More importantly they realize that long after their bandanas are forgotten about, a life could be saved from a new donor recruited to the registry as a result of the campaign or enabled by their donation.

Chefs in kitchens around SA, attempted to create the worlds largest omelette at the V & A Waterfront on the 10th October and in doing so chose to wear The Sunflower Funds bandanas while hard at work as they are cool, comfortable, colourful and washable !