To mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Jason McCartney MP took part in an event in Parliament to celebrate the nation’s potential stem cell donors on the Anthony Nolan register and raise awareness of the urgent need to diversify the stem cell register.
The event was hosted by Anthony Nolan on 26 October as part of its Communities vs Blood Cancer campaign, which shines a spotlight on vital work being done to ensure that every patient in need of a stem cell transplant can find a lifesaving donor. In total, more than 865,000 people in the UK are on the Anthony Nolan register, any of whom could be a match for someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder and be asked to donate their stem cells to give a patient a second chance of life.
Now, Jason McCartney MP is encouraging more people from Colne Valley, Holme Valley and Lindley, particularly men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds aged 16-30, to register as stem cell donors and help increase the chances that a match is available for everyone in need of a transplant. While anyone on the register could be a match for someone with blood cancer, men aged 16-30 are most likely to be asked to donate. They provide more than 50% of donations yet make up less than 18% of the register. There is also a need for more donors from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Jason McCartney MP said:
I am very proud to support Anthony Nolan and celebrate the nation’s potential lifesavers, any one of whom could offer someone with blood cancer a second chance of life. Registering to become a stem cell donor is straightforward and could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure.
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said:
In the last year nearly 25,000 selfless people joined the Anthony Nolan register, each one representing hopefor patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, in need of matching stem cell donors.
The public can be proud of all the lifesavers in your community. To everyone from Colne Valley who has decided to join the register, thank you. We rely on men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds aged 16-30 joining the register now to save lives in the future. Without you, there is no cure.
For more information on Anthony Nolan visit anthonynolan.org/join
Anthony Nolan uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer patients in desperate need of a stem cell transplant. It also carries out vital research to make stem cell transplants more successful and supports patients through their transplant journeys.
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For more information about the charity, please call the Anthony Nolan press office on 0207 424 1300 or email [email protected].
For urgent out-of-hours media enquiries, call 07881 265 285.
Note to editors
About Anthony Nolan
Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with blood cancer.
The charity uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer and blood disorder patients in need of stem cell transplants. It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success and supports patients through their transplant journeys. Every day Anthony Nolan gives three people a second chance at life. Find out more at www.anthonynolan.org
Note to sub editors
Please note that Anthony Nolan changed its name in 2001 and is no longer known as Anthony Nolan Trust.
