Can you help save a life?

Staff at the University of Bradford are holding a donor recruitment event to help recruit more potential donors to the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register.

The search is particularly urgent to find a bone marrow match for a three month old child whose has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. The UK bone marrow registers have been searched but so far no match has been found. The child has a parent who works at the University but has asked to stay anonymous.

The event will also raise awareness of Anthony Nolan – a blood cancer charity – and that people will be inspired to join the charity’s register of potential stem cell donors.

The event is on Thursday 21 March, 10am-2pm there will be a stand in the atrium in the Richmond building and in the Student’s Union.

Joanne Mullarky, Research Nurse in Ethical Tissue said: “We are pleased to be working with Anthony Nolan and hope that as many people as possible come forward to be tested. The first step is really quick and simple all you need to do is provide a mouth swab for testing.”

“It is especially close to our hearts as there is a three month old baby who needs to find a match and this is what is driving the campaign.”

Anthony Nolan uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer patients in desperate need of a transplant.

It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success, and supports patients through their transplant journeys.

Anthony Nolan is also keen to encourage more people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds to join the register. Currently, donors from these backgrounds, make up just 16% of the register, and patients have only a 20% chance of finding the best possible donor match, compared to 69% for people with white, European heritage.

Rebecca Pritchard, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, says, “We are delighted that the University of Bradford has been inspired to encourage people to sign up as donors. Every day, five people will start their search for a matching stranger who might save their life. Each person who signs up has the potential to help save someone in desperate need of a lifesaving stem cell transplant.

"We’re also particularly calling on young men aged 16-30 to consider joining the Anthony Nolan register as young men provide 50% of all stem cell donations but make up just 18% of our register.’

People aged 16-30 can join the register online at www.anthonynolan.org or by attending the event at Thursday 21 March, 10am-2pm in the Atrium, Richmond building, University of Bradford. Members of the public within the age range are also welcome to attend the session.