| | PO Box 64106 8072 Paphos Cyprus E Mail cyprusbeachbum@aol.com |
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The Cyprus Kidney Association is a non-profit making organisation set up specifically to raise money to supply urgently needed medical equipment for the Renal Unit at Paphos General Hospital. The Association is run by a small group of Volunteers and their supporters who rely entirely on donations and sponsorship to generate funds for the Renal Unit.
Last year we managed to raise almost €50,000. Most of our funding has been raised by the overwhelming generosity of the General Public in Paphos. However, the plight of kidney suffers in the Paphos area is critical.
In Cyprus a hereditary disease affects 80,000 Cypriots of which it is estimated 35,000 could require kidney dialysis before they reach the age of 70. In the Paphos area alone there are 4000 that will require treatment of which 200 MAY need to commence treatment in the next year. The Renal Unit is currently able to provide dialysis treatment for only 53 patients of all nationalities.
Patients on dialysis have to attend the Renal Unit 3 times a week. The treatment takes 4 to 5 hours each session. Without this life saving treatment patients would be dead within a week.
Two years ago a major campaign was undertaken by the Association to raise awareness of the plight of Kidney patients in the Paphos area and to generate funds to replace the 11 dialysis machines at the Renal Unit. The machines, whilst functional, were subject to breakdown and poor productivity due to their age and high maintenance.
Our campaign has succeeded in raising funds to purchase two state of the art machines which have the potential to reduce the mortality rate of patients on dialysis by 30%. In addition, recognising the imminent problems faced by an increasing number of potential kidney patients, a nationwide business has donated a further three machines. These recent achievements are very welcome. However, the remaining older machines still need to be replaced and urgent consideration is now being given to extend the Renal Unit to accommodate more machines to cope with demand. Unfortunately the Government has limited resources and is reliant upon Associations such as ours to assist them.
We understand that you have many other requests for your support, but your help in providing kidney dialysis machines really can save lives. This year we have donated several extra pieces of much needed equipment and I can assure you that every Euro you give us goes into helping the dialysis unit.
There is a way in which you could help that would cost you nothing!!!
As last year, we are asking if you would please consider e mailing friends to tell them that you are not sending out Christmas cards this year but are making a donation to CYKA with the money that you have saved on cards and postage. At just €1 per card this would make a substantial contribution to our funds.
Please pay in direct to any Hellenic Bank A/c 509-01-119254-01, payable to Cyprus Kidney Association
( Paphos) or drop off a cheque or cash to my mail box 529 at the Kamares Club, please giving your name and phone number so that we may thank you.
Do something great this Christmas, as this small gesture really will help to save lives.
Thank you,
Andrew Lauder, CYKA committee member.