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The Association of Friends of Lymphoma Patients ‘Przebiśnieg’ and the Małopolska Chess Association are organizing for the seventh time a nationwide campaign called Give MATA to a disease, in which a chess tournament was combined with a blood donation campaign. In this game, the symbolic opponent is a disease that has no chance against the players.
As part of the action, on March 22 at 9.30 at the Hotel Europejski at ul. Lubicz 5 in Krakow, the XNUMXth Chess Tournament will be played under the slogan “Give MATA to the disease”. The condition for participation in the tournament is documenting the participant’s blood donation. The organizers invite all chess players – adults, youth, children, women and men. People who do not play chess can also join the action. For this purpose, by the end of March this year, donate blood at any Blood Donation Station or its Local Unit, quote the slogan “Give MATA to the disease”, and then send the organizers information about the amount of blood donated to the following address: [email protected]
– Our action is guided by two goals. First of all, we want to obtain as much blood as possible, which, despite the enormous development of medicine and science, cannot be produced, but only received as a gift from another human being. The second goal is to promote knowledge about diseases of the hematopoietic system and methods of their treatment as well as broadly understood oncological issues – says Maria Szuba, President of the “Przebiśnieg” Association and emphasizes that so far, thanks to the “Give MATA to the disease” campaign, nearly 200 liters of blood have been collected. .
The honorary patronage over the action was taken by: Marek Sowa – Marshal of the Małopolska Region, University Hospital in Kraków, Regional Center for Blood Donation and Treatment in Kraków and the Polish Oncology Union.
What do blood and chess have in common?
The first tournament “Give MATA to the disease” was played in 2009 on the initiative of Jan Zapała – a chess judge and also a member of the “Przebiśnieg” Association, who won against lymphoma, i.e. a cancer of the hematopoietic system. – I encouraged the chess community to play this special tournament, where blood is donated instead of the entry fee. Every year there are more and more players who, in these special competitions, combine the fight on the board with the fight for the life and health of the sick – says Jan Zapała and explains: Just like players try to check their opponent, the same in the game for the life of people suffering from lymphoma they want to checkmate the disease. Lymphoma is an insidious enemy and fighting it often requires time and great determination. Hence the name of the tournament, which is a form of blood donation: Give MATA to the disease!
More information about the tournament on the website of the Przebiśnieg Association: http://przebisnieg.org/
Information on the conditions for donating blood: http://rckik.krakow.pl/jak_oddac_krew/
We invite you to join the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1573766462874274/
Diseases of the hematopoietic system
The most common diseases of the hematopoietic system are, among others anemia (anemia), granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and neoplasms (including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia and others). Most diseases of the hematopoietic system result from abnormalities in the functioning of the bone marrow, which when attacked by the disease ceases to produce healthy blood cells important for the proper functioning of the human body. Neoplasms are the most dangerous group of diseases of the hematopoietic system. These include: Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Hodgkin’s lymphoma), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leukemia.
Lymphomas
Lymphomas are cancers of the hematopoietic system that can be affected by anyone – regardless of gender, age or place of residence. They fall into two main groups: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (about 80% of cases) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma). The group of lymphomas also includes chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The causes of morbidity have not yet been known, although many factors have already been identified that increase the risk of their occurrence.
Lymphoma symptoms
The symptoms associated with lymphomas often resemble those of the common cold and are neglected, and the disease is usually not detected until the advanced stage. The most common symptoms of lymphomas: swollen lymph nodes, weakness, significant weight loss, unreasonable fatigue, elevated temperature for no apparent reason, profuse night sweats, long-lasting cough or shortness of breath, persistent itching of the skin. It is very important that any disturbing symptoms that persist for more than three weeks are consulted with a general practitioner. Lymphoma can only be diagnosed by a specialist doctor.
Treatment of lymphomas
Treatment of people with lymphomas should only take place in centers specialized in the treatment of neoplasms of the lymphatic system. Due to the wide variety of lymphomas, there are many treatment regimens. The course of treatment and prognosis depend, among others, on on the type and severity of the disease. The goal of treating patients with lymphomas is to completely reverse (complete remission) the disease, extend the life span without relapse, and improve the quality of life. In the treatment of lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplants and targeted therapies are used.
The Association of Friends of Lymphoma Patients ‘Przebiśnieg’ gathers people who want to help patients with diagnosed diseases of the lymphatic system – both those who are just diagnosed, undergoing treatment, and those who have completed them. The aim of the Association is, among others: to help patients with lymphatic system diseases and their families, to improve their quality of life, and to promote knowledge about lymphatic system diseases and methods of their treatment. Association incl. offers patients psychological and spiritual help, organizes meetings with convalescents and walks around Krakow, as well as disseminates educational materials and organizes campaigns to recognize the symptoms of lymphoma and methods of its treatment. More information about the organizer and the activities of the Association can be found on the website: www.przebisnieg.org