Life savers donated stem cells after student scheme in Leeds

Potential lifesavers have donated stem cells thanks to a student scheme to help beat blood cancer.
SIGN UP: University of Leeds students have signed up 11 people onto a blood cancer stem cell register.SIGN UP: University of Leeds students have signed up 11 people onto a blood cancer stem cell register.
SIGN UP: University of Leeds students have signed up 11 people onto a blood cancer stem cell register.

11 people, who were signed onto the Anthony Nolan stem cell register by students at the University of Leeds, have donate cells since September.

The volunteering group is known as Leeds Marrow and is part of a nationwide university network to help the charity.

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Grace Lowe, president of Leeds Marrow, said: “We want to say a big thank you to every single student who signed up to the register at any of our events. What many people don’t realise is how easy it is to join the register, all you have to do is fill out a simple form and spit in a tube. If you are a match for someone, most people will donate in an easy procedure similar to giving blood and you could potentially save a life.”

Statistically, 1 in 100 people signed onto the register by a Marrow group will donate stem cells to someone in need of a stem cell transplant.

Of the potential lifesavers who have been signed onto the Anthony Nolan stem cell register by Leeds Marrow, 11 have donated stem cells to help cure someone’s blood cancer since September. This represents 21 per cent of the stem cell donations, which have come from people signed-up through more than 50 University Marrow groups across the country.

Leeds Marrow’s recruitment co-ordinator Nick Raynor said: “We’re really pleased with the successes we have had this year so far. It all comes down to the brilliant student volunteers who have worked hard to make this happen.”

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Charlotte Cunliffe, marrow programme lead at Anthony Nolan, said: To join the register, you must be aged between 16 and 30, weigh at least 50kg and be in good health. We especially encourage young men as well as students from ethnic minority backgrounds to join as they are underrepresented on the register.”

See www.leedsmarrow.co.uk for more information.