Courage, charisma, strength of character, sincerity - whatever it is that makes some people inspirational and very special, Chris Corlett had it.

His fortitude and willingness to share even the darkest moments of his short life, awakened a flood of public support, which resulted in the birth of the Friends of the South African Bone Marrow Registry Foundation - now known as The Sunflower Fund, whose main purpose is to build up a database of 100,000 donors.
It was Chris Corlett's wish that the Registry develop and grow, so that future leukaemia sufferers may have the opportunity to live a healthy life.
His mother, Tina Botha, now the CEO of The Sunflower Fund, is dedicating her life to making her son's wish come true.

Read More: Chris Corlett (12/10/1982 - 10/09/2000)

Sadly we lost vivacious, twenty year old Charlynn Brower on 25th November. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in November 2005 at the age of 15 after heavy nose bleeds and back pain. She went into remission in 2006 but relapsed in January 2009. Neither of Charlynn’s older brothers were her bone marrow stem cell donor match nor could Charlynn find an unrelated match within her ethnic group.
 
Her illness didn’t deter her from pursuing her passion for dancing. She was very involved in Belly Dancing and will be sorely missed by everyone at her dancing school. Charlynn dreamt of being a fashion designer and would design beautiful outfits during her long stays at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in KwaZulu Natal.
 
Charlynn loved music, playing softball and doing girly stuff with her friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with her extended family who stood by her side through her long illness which she fought with such great courage.

Sandy Thorne, a 47 year old gym instructor, was someone who urgently needed a bone marrow stem cell transplant. Sandy was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukaemia (AML) on the 18th May 2009. From doing three aerobics sessions a day for years, Sandy experienced extreme fatigue and had to walk out of a class for the first time in her life. Her glands were swollen, so she went to the doctor who prescribed antibiotics.

She then lost 4kgs in a short space of time and the doctor requested a G scope (gastrointestinal endoscopy) on Friday, 15th May. On the Saturday she felt very weak and on the Sunday she fainted. On Monday her blood tests came back and she was told she had leukaemia.

Read more: Sandy Thorne (10/09/2011)

Luke Miles, a 35 year old horticulturist, landscapist, husband and father, was diagnosed with Leukaemia on 21st December 2010.

Luke Jason Miles began life on the 24th November 1976 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. As a young boy Luke and his brother Dougal were very fortunate to have grown up on a small holding just outside Port Elizabeth, where his love for indigenous trees and vegetation began. Luke’s father had a passion for nature and in particular indigenous trees, which is where Luke gained most of his knowledge. He was schooled at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and later went on to study Horticulture at Natal Technikon.

Read more: Luke Miles 24/11/1976 – 02/09/2011

“Nikas” or “Niki Lauda” (after the formula 1 driver and for being loud in nature) is how Niki was known by all his family and friends!!! A brave, hope-filled, spirit-filled, energetic, LOUDER, young man is how we would define him... If Niki was around you knew you were going to have a good time!

Our Friend Niki was diagnosed with AML in August of 2009! He fought a brave battle against the disease! Not once did Niki ever complain about what he had to go through or about what God had given him to handle! Niki embraced each new day.... It took us 14 months to find him a Donor! The necessary funds were raised and Niki received his transplant late 2010! We were all ecstatic as our friend had done it! He had beaten Cancer! Niki had beaten Leukaemia!!

Read more: Niki Duarte 08/06/1985 – 21/03/2011