Te Ururoa Flavell: Role of donors highlighted

The recent death of Jonah Lomu has highlighted the need to become a donor , which is what the Dream Chaser Foundation was set up to promote following the death of Whakatane toddler Chace Topperwien in 2012. Photo / File

I was really shocked and saddened to hear the news of the passing of the big man himself, Jonah Tali Lomu. Although most of us didn't know him personally, we watched him grow up in the spotlight.

First as a very young school leaver who was thrust into the international sporting scene, the youngest ever All Black. Then, over time, we were informed of his illness and followed the journey of him receiving a kidney replacement.

He tried to return to rugby, and continue his work as a rugby ambassador, over the years, and was working with children's charities, all the while struggling with his illness.

I think it's fair to say, as we've seen the country acknowledge him over the past week or so, that he's impacted the sporting world like no one did before him. We can be proud that he came from here, a son of the Pacific, and made his mark on the world. He will be missed by his whanau, his friends, his boys and his fans and rugby community around the world. Moe mai e te rangatira.

One of the things that comes to mind when I think about Jonah is the ability we have to provide blood, organs and bone marrow, while we are still fit and healthy. Jonah had Grant Kereama to thank for providing him with a kidney, which gave Jonah extra years of quality life before his health deteriorated.

One of the things we can do to help others is to become a regular blood donor, and also think about signing up to the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The Dream Chaser Foundation is embarking on a project where it hopes to spread the word, provide information and encourage people to donate their bone marrow.

There are only 10,000 Maori and Pacific Islanders on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, compared with 15 million Europeans on worldwide registries. If I needed bone marrow, my chances of finding a matching donor are pretty slim compared with that of a person of European descent. I will be working with the Dream Chaser Foundation to help promote this kaupapa.

Finally, I would like to mihi to Rotorua Community Kai (RCK) for being acknowledged as local heroes by the Genesis Energy "Shine a Light" Campaign. I know the team have been working tirelessly to provide regular meals for the community as well as emergency meals. Levi and her team are so humble about their mahi, so it is great to see them being recognised through a national campaign. If you are able to contribute to RCK, or for more information about what they do, visit www.rotoruacommunitykai.co.nz

- Te Ururoa Flavell is the Waiariki MP and co-leader of the Maori Party.