1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: You're with Cave Talk Thissess Papaton on lunch. Well, not 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: sibling rivalry in our first interview, but partners doing something 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: very very special as a way of paying forward the 4 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: good fortune that they have experienced. The context for this 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: interview is this. A couple of weeks ago, we spoke 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: to Massimour from Massimo's Pizza in Half Bay as he 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: took off the apron and handed over the reins of 8 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: that business and told us he was off to enjoy 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: a much needed and well earned retirement with his wife, Tracy. 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: And during that conversation we reminded you of something that 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: was a real turning point in Massimore's life personally and 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: business wife business wise, he was diagnosed with leukemia well 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: over a decade ago now, and he received a stem 14 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: cell transplant from his sister which changed his life. Saved 15 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: his life, of course, but changed his perspective on life, 16 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: and he told us during that interview how it really 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: forced him to relook where he stood in the world 18 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: and what he did for other people. And those of 19 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: you who've eaten at Massimo's over the years will know 20 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: that that change look like an incredible commitment to helping 21 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: charities in the Heart Bay area using the business to 22 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,559 Speaker 1: do good, allocating a portion of sales to designated NGOs, etc. 23 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: And the other thing Masimore mentioned during that interview was 24 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: how many other people who experienced the gift of a 25 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: stem cell donation feel the same way and respond with 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: the same sort of need to pay it forward, and 27 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: he mentioned how he had been personally inspired by the 28 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: story of Robin and Yolande Lewis, who have been traveling 29 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: around the world on a mission to raise awareness about 30 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: stem cell donation and they do it in a custom 31 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: built motor home called Betsy, and Betsy takes them all 32 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: over the place, helping to recruit donors through their project, 33 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: which is called Matches on the Map. And we Masima 34 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: mentioned it, we knew straightaway that was a story we 35 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: wanted to share on the show, and I'm delighted to 36 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: say we've been able to track them down and I'm 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: delighted to have them with us on Zoom from their 38 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: home in nels Brayton and Pumlunga this afternoon. Robin Andy LUNDI, 39 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. 40 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. It's just going to be meet 41 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: today Robin. 42 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: Just Robin, I'm absolutely fine, Robin. Thanks so much for 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: your time and I'm so glad that we were able 44 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: to make this interview possible. It is your personal story 45 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: of going through this process of receiving a stem cell transport. 46 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: I believe that was the beginning of your matches on 47 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: the MAP project. Won't you take us back to that 48 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: moment when you received your diagnosis and what happened next. 49 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 3: So I got my diagnosis back in twenty eighteen. First 50 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 3: it started off with burn marrow failure in our hometown 51 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: of nel Spray in Umlanga. Eventually talked for about six 52 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: months of doing testing and all that. We ended up 53 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 3: at Kurt Ski in Cape Town and they suggested, well, 54 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: they said that I had definitely had to go for 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 3: a stem cell transplant. And at that stage they had 56 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 3: already tested my sister and just similar to Massimer, my 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 3: sister was a fifty percent match, which is a helpline 58 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: identical match. And just before going into transplant, they actually 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 3: ran a last final tist and they discovered something underlying 60 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: which was causing the blood cancer, and that was spankoni aemia. 61 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 3: So that's a real genetic disease. It causes cancers. And 62 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 3: then after they had that diagnosis narrow done, I booked 63 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: in for transplant and I spent close to five months 64 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 3: in isolation going. 65 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: Through the process. 66 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: Five months in isolation, I mean that must have been 67 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: so taxing mentally. Never mind what your body is going through, Robin, 68 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: what was it like to to have to spend all 69 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: of that time lying in a hospital bed, cut off 70 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: from your outside life. 71 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 3: So usually in a transplant case, a patient would end 72 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: up staying around a month, but unfortunately, in Marcus, I 73 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: developed something called growth versus those disease, which affects basically 74 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: all of your organs. If you're lucky, it doesn't spread 75 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: too far. But my worst affected area was the gut, 76 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 3: and that get me in hospital for such a long time. 77 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: But I think mentally. 78 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 3: It's the biggest challenge, challenge staying in isolation for so long. 79 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: So at least I had my wife with me in Lundy. 80 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 3: She was every single day and at the end of 81 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: the day she spent three months sleeping right next to 82 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: my bedside, sure looking after me, bathing me in bed 83 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 3: when I got really weak, But eventually at the end 84 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: of the day I could walk out there. Actually I 85 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 3: was wheeled out on a wheelchair. But it just changed 86 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 3: my life. Just as Massima mentioned on your interview, it 87 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 3: really changes your perspective and what you what you what's 88 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 3: important for you. 89 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 2: And you in your life. 90 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: So to tell us what that looked like for you, 91 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: because Masi Massimore's case was like, Okay, well, well I 92 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: feel like I need to give something back in exchange 93 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: for this gift of a second chance that I've been given, 94 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: and he chose to do that via the vessel of 95 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: his restaurant. You've taken a completely different approach, Robyn, and 96 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: your wife, your Lundy has supported you on this as 97 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: well as she did all last months in hospital. When 98 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: did the ideas taking place, sort of formulating in your 99 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: mind that what you were going to do was raise 100 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: awareness of stem cell transplant and how it works and 101 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: why we have such a need for donors, and then 102 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: we'll talk about what you actually did to put that 103 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: in motion. 104 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: So the first thing in recovery we did was I 105 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 3: needed to build some strength, so I needed a physical 106 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 3: project to keep you going. And at that stage we 107 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 3: couldn't really earn an income as well, so we had 108 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: some well I couldn't physically work to earn an. 109 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: Income, so we we had dedicated ten years. 110 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 3: Before actually deciding on the venture, I made a bit 111 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 3: of a promise to the creator upstairs, saying that if 112 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 3: you would give me ten years, then I would commit 113 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 3: ten years towards a meaningful project that gives us some purpose. 114 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 3: And when I did end up sitting in front of 115 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 3: the doctors just before going into transplant with an added 116 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: diagnosis of fanka in the anemia, the life expectancy went 117 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: way done. And at that stage I was twenty five 118 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: years old and the doctors mentioned thirty five, So at 119 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 3: the realization there was an answer. So I knew I 120 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 3: had to do something to stick to my end of 121 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 3: the bargain. And eventually, while lying in the isolation room, 122 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 3: obviously I had a lot of time to think about things, 123 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 3: this idea started developing. So we started drawing up a 124 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 3: map and what went from Africa turned into a sixty 125 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 3: four country journey from South Africa to Vietnam in a 126 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 3: self built motor home called Betty. 127 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: As you mentioned, so let start all started. We started small. 128 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 3: While we were busy building the truck, we didn't exactly 129 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,559 Speaker 3: know what we were going to do, so we didn't 130 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 3: know stem soole donation in particular. So we were doing 131 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 3: all kinds of nonprofit projects like helping animal shelters and 132 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 3: bits and bobs all over the place, and eventually got 133 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 3: asked to be the support troop leaders for people with 134 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: Fanconianemia in South Africa, which we accepted, and we were 135 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: two young little girls, both black South African girls, one 136 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 3: nine and one eleven. They also needed a stem cell transplant, 137 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 3: but they didn't have matches unfortunately, because your ethnicity plays 138 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 3: a very big. 139 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:13,679 Speaker 2: Role in actually finding your match. 140 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 3: Just to give you the numbers of the figures, a 141 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: caucasion looks said about one to one hundred thousand chance 142 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 3: of finding a match, whereas any other race throughout the 143 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: world starts one to four hundred thousand. So that's why 144 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 3: they didn't have matches on the database. And as one 145 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: of these nonprofit initiatives or campaigns that we started at 146 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 3: the stage when we were building the truck, we said, well, 147 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 3: why don't we try and find their matches for them, 148 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 3: So we recruited locally in our hometown of nul Sprots, 149 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 3: But unfortunately we couldn't find their matches and both of 150 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: them passed away. But that's what actually yes, So it 151 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 3: was something very sad, but it actually turned into something 152 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 3: very big that changed the project to be more focused 153 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 3: on stem cell donations. So that's that's why we started 154 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: recruiting and going through all of these scangies. You're able 155 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: to add diversity to the registry, which is the most 156 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 3: important thing. 157 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: Let's expand on that. And just before we do that, 158 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: let me say, for the sake of anybody who comes 159 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: into this conversation midway and is wondering who you're listening to. 160 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: Robin lewis on the line to us from Nelsprayit in Pumulanga. 161 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: Robin received a stem cell transplant back in twenty eighteen 162 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: and he and his wife, your Lundi, have been traveling 163 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: the world in their home built home converted truck called Betsy, 164 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: raising awareness of stem cell donation. And Robin, the key 165 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: thing you've said there is diversity and the database, as 166 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: you've explained, the chance of finding a match is difficult 167 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: to start with. It's even more difficult if you are 168 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: from a mixed background, a very diverse genetic background. And 169 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: here we sit in South Africa, so proud of our 170 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: status as the Rainbow nation with a melting pot of cultures. 171 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: This is one area where it really works against South Africans. 172 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: I'm afraid because the chances of finding matches in that 173 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: kind of environment quite difficult. Robin, what's the message you 174 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: take up there when you travel. If you're trying to 175 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: explain to somebody who's never heard of the concept of 176 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: stem cell donation before, what do you tell them? 177 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: The first thing is that it's free. It's usually that 178 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 3: opens up doors. But the second thing is it's not painless. 179 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 3: So signing up is a stem cell don It only 180 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 3: requires you to do swaps in the mouth yourself, so 181 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 3: you don't it's not like a COVID swap going up 182 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: the nose or anything like that. You fill out an 183 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 3: application form, you send that into the South African Bone 184 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 3: Mirror Registry. That's the registry we work with. They put 185 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 3: it through the necessary lab testing. With the results, you 186 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: get locked onto their data base and if ever you 187 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 3: are found to be somebody's life saving match, they just 188 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 3: phone you up, they fly you out, they get you 189 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 3: prepped and then you go through the process of doing 190 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: the actual donation, which most people assume that it's still 191 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 3: the olden days ways, whereas they take burone mirror physically 192 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: from your headbone or from your pelvic bone, which in 193 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: these days that's not the ghost anymore. Luckily, nowadays, they 194 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 3: take blood from the one arm, they put it through 195 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 3: a stem cell fultrotion machine, they put the blood back 196 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 3: into the other arm. Then they take those stem cells 197 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 3: and they transplant that into the patient, giving that patient 198 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: to transit life. 199 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: That's pretty simple, then, Eave. 200 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: I want to echo what Robin said. I have a 201 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: friend who has received that phone call to say you're 202 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: a match for somebody and has been through the process, 203 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: and she said it was like a just a sort 204 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: of a long version of a blood donation, and you know, 205 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: very it's a case of lying on a bed watching 206 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: the blood flow out of one arm and coming back 207 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: into the you know, a little bit later on into 208 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: the other. It really is not the painful process that 209 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: a lot of people mentally think it's going to be, 210 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: so it's important to emphasize that again. It is literally 211 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: an easy swab to get yourself onto the database, and 212 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: then even the procedure itself, if you are called upon, 213 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: is not particularly invasive or time consuming, and it's not 214 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: expensive either. The costs are covered so Robin, that's that's 215 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: important messaging. Now, how is that messaging falling? And has 216 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: it varied according to where in the world you have been, 217 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: because as you said, you guys have been all over Africa, 218 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: all the way across to Vietnam. Those will have been 219 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: very different cultural environments you found yourselves in. Are people 220 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: more receptive to the idea in some parts of the world. 221 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: Have you had a harder job of sort of selling 222 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: the idea in some parts? What has been your experience? 223 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: So, first off, I'd just like to mention that we 224 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 3: haven't done the whole tip so far. We're still on 225 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 3: the way. 226 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: We've done five countries. 227 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 3: We've done eswatin in Dusty to South Africa, Namibia and Wotswana, 228 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 3: and each of those countries take quite some time, so 229 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 3: it's a ten year venture, so we'll still be on 230 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 3: the road for at least eight years. We've completed two 231 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 3: years on the road now. But it has been it 232 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 3: has been very interesting. Mostly we've been received positively and welcoming. 233 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 3: So especially Namibia was great. We signed up just undred 234 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 3: one thousand people there in five months. 235 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: It was fantastic. 236 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 3: But I wouldn't say that there's any negativity around it. 237 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: As soon as you mentioned that it's not painful as 238 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,599 Speaker 3: everybody assumes, then everybody's more open minded and willing to 239 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 3: help out. So the one challenge that we do have 240 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 3: though is the exclusions. So unfortunately there are exclusions. So 241 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 3: it's very similar to blood donation, whereas when you have 242 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: if you have an inherited disease or you've got cancer, 243 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 3: we've got a blood disease or something like that, you 244 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 3: wouldn't be able to sign up, And unfortunately, age is 245 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 3: one of those, so you can only sign up by 246 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 3: at the SABMR between the ages of sixteen and forty five. 247 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 3: And usually people are quite upset because it's the older 248 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 3: generation that is at that time in the life where 249 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 3: they'd like to start giving back. So it's usually the 250 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 3: older people that would like to sign up. And unfortunately, 251 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 3: because your stem cells start degenerating as you get older, 252 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 3: we have to keep it too young healthy individuals to 253 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 3: do the donation. It just gives the patient the best 254 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 3: chance possible. So, yeah, we have experienced many different things 255 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 3: on the road, many challenges and all that, but in 256 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 3: regards to stem cell donation itself, setting up the actual recruitments, 257 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 3: I would say that's the most challenging point. Finding a 258 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 3: group of individuals that are willing to listen to a 259 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 3: short educational talk and then giving us the time to 260 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: come around. That's the biggest joke. 261 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: Okay, Robin, I mean, thanks for clarifying the age limit 262 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: because the couple of people were asking about that on 263 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: our WhatsApp line. Appreciate the clarity on what it is 264 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: and why it is that way, and really to emphasize 265 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: what you've said, this is really something to start thinking 266 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: about earlier rather than later in life, and encouraging young 267 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: people in particular to consider signing up as potential donors. Robin. 268 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: From a personal perspective, for you and your lundy on 269 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: the road in Betsy, what's life like? I mean, it's 270 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: one thing to live together as a married couple, but 271 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: to do so in quite tighter tight quarters sharing a 272 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: motor home, I'm sure must come with its own set 273 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: of challenges. 274 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 2: Yes, no, definitely it does. 275 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 3: I think the first year was the most challenging is 276 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 3: getting accustomed to the space that we were living in. 277 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: But we built the truck ourselves so that we could 278 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 3: work out the spaces exactly, so, whether it's shower space 279 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 3: or workspace to do that in. We made sure that 280 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 3: we are as comfortable as we could be in a 281 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: five meter by two point five meter box. But it's 282 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 3: been a great adventure. I mean, we've gotten to know 283 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 3: so many wonderful people. We've had amazing experiences on the road, 284 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 3: and obviously like a lot of challenges, but overcoming each 285 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 3: one of those or it's very rewarding. And then I 286 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 3: would say that the biggest highlights on the road has 287 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 3: been finding our first match within the first year. 288 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 2: That was really amazing. 289 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 3: That we went on to somebody's life in South America, 290 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: so that was a big motivator to keep going, just 291 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 3: before we went into the movie. So yeah, it's been 292 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 3: very interesting and getting to know different cultures and we're 293 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 3: working with There are some language barriers, especially coming up 294 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 3: now we're about zimbolb with the Mozambiak and mozim Big. 295 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 3: As you guys know, it's most Portuguese, so that's going to. 296 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 2: Be another one. 297 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 3: But we just kind of adapt as we go along. 298 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 3: We got used to the small space. The maintenance is 299 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 3: quite a bit on the truck. She leads a lot 300 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: of TLC as we go along, and the old girl 301 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: running's if she's happy, we happy, then she takes us place. 302 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 2: So yeah, that's that's pretty much it. 303 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 3: We've had negative experiences that I won't go too much into, 304 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 3: but we've been robbed on the road and attempt to 305 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 3: treat them. So you get the bad, but there's definitely 306 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 3: a lot more good than what there is bad. 307 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: I'm glad to hear that you still have that mindset, 308 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: and Robin, it speaks to the mindset you set off 309 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: with this project that this is about doing good in 310 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: the world and putting good out there in thanks for 311 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: the good that came your way with that transplant, and 312 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: I hope that that continues to be the predominant perception 313 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: that guides you on the next leg of the journey. 314 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: So we wish you good luck as he head to 315 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Two things to say in terms of 316 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: where to direct our listeners. If they want to learn 317 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: more about bone marrow and stemsull donation, please visit sab MR, 318 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: which is the South African Bone Marrow Registry website SABMR 319 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: dot co dot za for more information and Robin, if 320 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: they want to follow your journey specifically, have you got 321 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: a Instagram page or a Facebook page or a website 322 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: or anything like that. That's the best place to keep 323 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: an eye on where you go and what you experience. 324 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: It's really dependent on the followers. 325 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 3: So we've got a YouTube channel we document every single 326 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 3: day that we be on the road, whether it's recruitments 327 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 3: or nice places we see, campsites, or challenges that we 328 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 3: face on the road. 329 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 2: That's all on YouTube. 330 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 3: And then numerous expeditions so that usually people struggle with 331 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 3: the spelling on that one, but if you search matches 332 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 3: on the map, then that'll probably pop up as numerous expeditions. 333 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 3: The same goes for Facebook and Instagram numerous expeditions. And 334 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 3: then we've got a Patreon channel where our followers supports 335 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: us with a monthly contribution. So that's matches on the 336 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 3: map on Patre So are the numerous expeditions or matches 337 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 3: on the map. And then to fund our journey, we 338 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: are self funded, so your Landy makes and my products 339 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 3: and that's all on your Landy Lewis Photography, So wherever 340 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 3: you guys would like to follow you. 341 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: Okay, the zoom line just fell over at the very 342 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: very last moment there, but I think we've got the 343 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: gist of it. Robin, thank you so so much for 344 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: joining us this afternoon. That was Robin Lewis. Our best 345 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: wishes to you and your Lundy as you take off 346 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: on the next leg of the matches on the Map 347 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: project so still a work in progress, with the aim 348 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: of sixty four countries over ten years in total. How 349 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: amazing to know that they've already literally saved somebody's life 350 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: by signing up the donor who turned out to be 351 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: a match for them, and that could happen multiple times 352 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: over by the time this journey is done. So I 353 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: think one we need to keep touching on from time 354 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: to time.