07/05/2025
Stem Cell Donors Save Lives: Matches on the Map Comes to Namibia
The Cancer Association of Namibia partners with Numinous Expeditions and their eco-friendly truck, Betsy, to find life-saving stem cell donors across the country.
The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30) is proud to partner with Robin and Jolandie Lewis of Numinous Expeditions as they journey across three continents to raise awareness for stem cell donation. Their initiative, “Matches on the Map”, is the world’s first intercontinental stem cell donor awareness and recruitment drive. Traveling in their truck, Betsy — powered entirely by recycled cooking oil — the couple aims to register potential stem cell donors and build hope for those battling life-threatening blood cancers.
Namibia is the fourth country on their 64-country world tour, and following successful donor drives in Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, and Mariental, Windhoek is their next stop.
Betsy, dubbed the Truck of Hope, will be stationed in Windhoek for the next two weeks, where schools and corporates are invited to host communication and donor drives.
A public education and donor drive will be held in collaboration with the Cancer Association of Namibia and La Vie Café at the Independence Plaza (adjacent to FNB Head Office and Nedbank Campus in the city centre) on Friday, 23 May 2025, from 08:00. This event marks a unique opportunity for Namibians to learn about stem cell donation and join the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which is the only bone marrow registry in Africa accredited by the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA).
The Cancer Association of Namibia maintains a long-standing partnership with the SABMR to expand its cross-border donor base, as Namibia currently has no local marrow registry. For Namibian patients diagnosed with blood cancer, a stem cell transplant could be their only hope for survival. However, finding a genetic match is incredibly challenging — with chances ranging from 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 400,000, depending on ethnic background. Currently, South Africa has approximately 80,000 registered donors, while Namibia has just 800.
The Matches on the Map expedition is also being documented as part of a 10-year global journey aimed at locating life-saving matches for patients affected by rare diseases that lead to bone marrow failure, including leukaemia. During this journey, Robin and Jolandie visit communities, give educational talks, and set up stem cell donor recruitment drives at schools, universities, sports clubs, and markets. Remarkably, Betsy is fuelled entirely by used cooking oil, collected from local fast-food establishments — an inspiring symbol of sustainable hope.
For media enquiries, or to invite Robin and Jolandie with Betsy to your school or office for an educational session and donor drive, contact Robin at 081 824 4090 or via email at l.robinlewis@gmail.com.
Support the mission. Join the registry. Save a life.
