To mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Brian Whittle MSP 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.
This day was marked by Anthony Nolan on 22 September, 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, Brian is encouraging more people across South Scotland, 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.
Brian Whittle MSP 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.
“This Blood Cancer Awareness Month the public can be proud of all the lifesavers in your
community. To everyone from <constituency/region> 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.
