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'Breastmilk in transit' - Cape Town bikers ride for new 'MoM' feeding project

Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied

Cape Town - Hardcore bikers showed their softer side as dozens of motorcyclists delivered hundreds of jars of much-needed breastmilk to aid premature babies at clinics in Cape Town. 
 
Dozens of bikers made their way to Groote Schuur Hospital to pick-up and deliver hundreds of glass jars. 

The riders delivered them to three clinics around the city that cater to some of the most at-risk babies.

Mom’s Own Milk (MoM) Project

The mass bike ride marks the launch of a bold new venture called Mom’s Own Milk on the Move (MoM) Project; an initiative that sees the Relate Trust and Scully Scooters working with Newborns Trust to get mothers’ breastmilk delivered regularly to their little ones.

 
 
The project, which will officially launch on November 16, aims to increase survival rates among premature babies by facilitating access to much-needed breastmilk. 

READ: Breastfeeding could save the lives of thousands of infants affected by drought

One in seven babies is born premature, and 60% of those born weighing less than 1kg do not survive, mostly due to a lack of resources. 

In South Africa, mothers are often discharged from hospital and have no way to return daily to feed or visit their babies who remain there for up to two months. As a result, breastmilk supplies are diminished and babies do not receive the nutrients required to build their immune systems and fight off illness. The MoM Project aims to change that. 

Leader in glass manufacturing in South Africa, CONSOL Glass has donated enough glass jars for a year, which can be sterilized and used by mothers to express breastmilk for their babies.

In honour of the MoM Project and World Prematurity Day on November 17, Newborns Trust and Relate are also launching a brand new purple woven bracelet, with all proceeds from the sales of the bracelets contributing directly to Newborns Trust.

                                                                     Image: Supplied

Additionally, you can show your support on social media by using the hashtags: #Givethemtomorrow #worldprematurityday #purple4preemies
  
The Relate Trust is a proudly 100% not-for-profit social enterprise which predominantly sells handmade beaded bracelets to raise money for charities globally, while creating jobs for people in low income communities. 

In the last three years alone, Relate has raised more than R26-million for causes in health, education, conservation, social upliftment, and children’s and women’s empowerment, while raising close to R50million since it became a Trust in 2010.

For more information visit the Relate Trust website.

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