My name is Nikita Kurumella. I am 17 years old and study at National Public School, Bengaluru. I first heard about DATRI through a classmate who had started volunteering with the organization and shared her experience online. Her post piqued my interest, and I reached out to learn how I could contribute to this noble cause.
I was deeply moved by the stories of patients with life-threatening blood cancers and disorders. This ignited a desire within me to educate myself and others about these diseases and how we can all become lifesavers. The more I learned, the more I wanted to find ways to help these patients in any way I could.
After speaking with a few members from DATRI, I understood how the organization works tirelessly to help patients receive the treatment they need and to build a robust stem cell donor base in India. They explained that many patients lack the funds necessary for the testing process, and one of the best ways I could help was by raising funds for DATRI.
Inspired by the dedication of DATRI, I decided to take action. I reached out to my family and friends, sharing the vital work DATRI does and encouraging them to contribute to this cause. Given that most of my friends are students like me and not earning members, I requested that instead of buying me gifts for my birthday, they contribute the amount to DATRI. To my joy, everyone rallied around the cause, and together we managed to raise a substantial amount of money.
I raised about Rs 43,500 for DATRI. While it might seem like a small amount, I feel incredibly proud and elated that, as a student, I was able to make a difference. This is just the beginning for me, and I aim to do much more in the future.
As I started spreading the word about DATRI, more family members and friends became aware of the patients suffering and showed a willingness to help. I began receiving more inquiries about the cause and the incredible work DATRI does.
Volunteering with DATRI has taught me to be grateful for the privileges I have been blessed with. It has shown me that individual actions, no matter how small they seem, can collectively make a significant impact and even save lives. This journey has made me count my blessings, which I previously took for granted. Listening to some of the DATRI stories has had a profound impact on me, and I feel blessed and grateful for the opportunity to be part of DATRI’s lifesaving mission.
This experience will be cherished as one of the most significant and lifesaving memories of my student life. I hope my journey inspires others to stand up for a cause and make a difference in their own ways.
Nikita’s efforts show how each one of us can replicate this in a similar way; a small step can be instrumental in making a difference in someone’s life. Parents can encourage their children to explore ways they can be valuable to organizations like DATRI. This way, we can make the world a better place to live and for the students this will be a enriching experience.
About DATRI:
DATRI Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry, a not-for-profit organisation, has facilitated more than 1401 Blood Stem Cell Donations to date. The journey began in the year 2009 to find unrelated matched donors for patients with leukaemia, Thalassemia or blood disorders whose life is dependent on an unrelated donor to survive. DATRI, India’s largest Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry, has more than 5,59,517 donors registered. DATRI is working towards creating a wide and diverse database of potential Blood Stem Cell Donors that can be accessed by any patient living anywhere in the world in need of a Blood Stem Cell Donation. Any healthy individual between the age of 18 years to 50 years can register as a blood stem cell donor with DATRI and potentially become a lifesaver when they’re found to be a match for a fatal blood disorder patient.
