General News
3 October, 2020
Tragedy leads to charity
When 13-year-old Missy Clarkson lost her battle with cancer in August of this year, her mum Anj Mittelstadt decided she wanted something good to come out of the tragic situation.
When 13-year-old Missy Clarkson lost her battle with cancer in August of this year, her mum Anj Mittelstadt decided she wanted something good to come out of the tragic situation.
Missy was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and when people asked Anj how they could help, she directed them to give blood.
From there Missy’s Donors was born. “You can start your own blood donors’ group and the blood gets shared all the over Queensland,” Anj said.
Missy had over 150 blood products including transfusions, plasma and platelets during her treatment.
“If you donate cash you don’t know how much of the money is actually going to people in need, whereas if you give blood 100 per cent will be used by someone in need,” Anj said.
“It’s just so easy to donate blood, it costs you nothing and there is always a need for blood.
“Our goal this year is for 2020 donations, each donation saves 3 lives so that’s 6060 lives Missy’s Donors could possibly save.”
Groups of people started getting together to give blood on behalf of Missy and soon T-shirts were given out to recognise locals who had given blood as part of Missy’s Donors.
Anj has now set up a website and charity called 'This strong mum’ which sells red ‘Missy Donor’ T-shirts.
“Through the sale of the T-shirts, I help parents of children with paediatric cancer as quite often the parents are forgotten and left floundering,” she said.
“I don’t take any money out of the charity, 100 per cent goes to parents in need through support and information.”
Anj also has big plans for the charity into the future.
“The Queensland Children’s hospital has already engaged us, and I plan on rolling it out across the country,” she said.
“If people want to donate blood as part of Missy Donors, all they have to do is tell the receptionist that you would like to donate as part of Missy Donors.
“I always ask people to send me photos of them giving blood so that we can post it on our socials.”
If you would like to buy a t-shirt or donate go to www.thisstrongmum.com or go to www.facebook.com/thisstrongmum/
