LIFESAVERS
NEEDED Every year, hundreds of UK patients need bone marrow transplants to treat life-threatening disorders, such as Leukaemia and Aplastic Anaemia. Fewer than 30% of these patients will find a family member with compatible blood stem cells to donate. For the rest, an unrelated donor is the only chance. Georgia Cocking’s family is delighted to announce that her consultant has confirmed the Anthony Nolan have found a donor for Georgia. After an international search a donor has been located. A donor who is potentially willing to donate their stemcells to save the life of someone they have never met!!! 5yr old Georgia has Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, a disease that normally effects men in their 50’s. To survive long term Georgia was depending on the Anthony Nolan finding her that special match. Angela MacVicar, Donor Recruitment Manager for the charity said “This is wonderful news for Georgia’s family but we must spare a thought for the other 7000 families who are currently searching for that special match to save their lives. We are extremely grateful to the Odyssey Pavilion & Sheridan Group and the Belfast Giants for helping us highlight the need for bone marrow donors and look forward to a successful recruitment drive to be held at the Odyssey Pavilion 22nd, 23rd & 24th March 07” “We are also grateful to Georgia’s family for their selfless attitude and help to increase the register at this very stressful time” Georgia’s mum, Debbie said “ Georgia now has a fighting chance thanks to the generosity of a complete stranger – words fail me! We are also indebted to the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust without this life saving charity this would not have been made possible. Please continue to help raise the profile of the Anthony Nolan Trust. If this can happen to our family it could happen to yours and we need to invest in the register to enable more lives to be saved” The Belfast Giants turned out in force to lend their support and the Odyssey Pavilion & Sheridan Group have given permission for a recruitment drive on the above dates. The Anthony Nolan Trust is appealing for more donors from specific groups to come forward to help save lives. We urgently need more male donors, donors from ethnic minority groups and more young donors but we need donors from all back grounds to increase the chances for everyone. To be able to register as a bone marrow donor, the criteria is to be aged between 18-40 years, be in good general health, weigh over 8 stone and be willing to help save the life of any patient you may match. For more information about becoming a bone marrow donor, please visit the Anthony Nolan website at www.anthonynolan.org.uk. WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AND GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE. Should a donor ever match to donate stem cells a short hospital stay is required and the stem cells can be donated in two ways. Either direct from the bone marrow via the pelvis under a general anaesthetic (cells will regenerate in the body within 7days) or after a series of injections to increase stem cell production, the extra cells are withdrawn from veins in the arms (similar to platelet donation). Donors have the choice of donation method and all donations take place in London. All donor’s loss of earnings and travel costs are covered and donors have a full medical prior to donating. NOTES: • DONOR CRITERIA:
New donors must be aged between 18- 40yrs old, and in good health, weigh
over 8 stone, not be severely overweight and be willing to donate stem
cells to ANY patient they may ever match. CONTACTS: The Anthony Nolan
Trust : 07887 561 279 angela.macvicar@anthonynolan.org.uk
ODYSSEY TO HOST RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR LIFE SAVERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Angela MacVicar, Donor Recruitment Manager for the Charity said “ Currently we are searching for 7000 patients in need of this life saving gift - that special match to save their lives. We are extremely grateful to the Odyssey Pavilion & Sheridan Group and the Belfast Giants for helping us highlight the need for bone marrow donors and look forward to a successful recruitment drive to be held at the Odyssey Pavilion: Thursday
22nd March 5pm – 9pm “We are also grateful to Georgia Cocking’s family for their selfless attitude and help to increase the register at this very stressful time” The Lisburn family have recently been working with the Anthony Nolan Trust to help raise awareness of the need for more people to join the register. Fortunately, after a worldwide search a donor has been located and Georgia will have her transplant within the month. Georgia’s mum, Debbie said, “ Georgia now has a fighting chance thanks to the generosity of a complete stranger – words fail me! We are also indebted to the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust without this life saving charity this would not have been made possible. Please continue to help raise the profile of the Anthony Nolan Trust. If this can happen to our family it could happen to yours and we need to invest in the register to enable more lives to be saved” The Belfast Giants are backing this appeal in a bid to increase awareness and help save lives. Manager Todd Kelvin said “We feel really privileged to back such a worthy cause and appeal to the people of Northern Ireland to come forward and find out how they can help someone less fortunate than themselves”. Northern Ireland man Sean Penn donated his marrow to a German woman some years ago and is willing to talk about his experience and encourage people to join the register. He can be contacted by emailing scpenn@eircom.net We are also appealing for companies that employ a large volume of 18 to 40 yr olds to contact the Anthony Nolan Trust and invite us to recruit bone marrow donors from the work force. A clinic can be set up on the premises and employees would only need 10 mins away from their work station. Please come along to the Odyssey Pavilion and find out more about how you can help increase the register in Northern Ireland. Reality is it could be you who needs our help in the future!! Every 21 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with a potentially life threatening disorder like leukaemia where often the only chance of a full cure is to have a bone marrow transplant. The Anthony Nolan Trust is a charity dedicated to saving the lives of people suffering from disorders such as leukaemia and we run the UK’s largest and most successful bone marrow register. We are responsible for finding matches for all UK patients in need of bone marrow transplants. The main criteria to join the Anthony Nolan register are: must be aged 18-40, be in good health, weigh more than eight stone (51kg), not be severely overweight and be willing to donate to any patient you may ever match. Once you have joined, you will remain on the register until your 60th birthday. For more information, please contact the Anthony Nolan Trust at www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 020 7284 1234. WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AND GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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