Henry Smith MP took part in an event in Parliament (on Wednesday, 26th October) 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 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 life-saving 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, Henry is encouraging more people from Crawley, particularly men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds aged 16 to 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 to 30 are most likely to be asked to donate. They provide more than 50 per cent of donations yet make up less than 18 per cent of the register. There is also a need for more donors from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Henry said;
“I’m very pleased 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.
“I established the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blood Cancer in 2016, and as current Vice Chair of the Group I’ll continue to work to ensure we can save the lives of more people with blood cancer.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, commented;
“In the last year nearly 25,000 selfless people joined the Anthony Nolan register, each one representing hope for 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 Crawley who has decided to join the register, thank you. We rely on men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds aged 16 to 30 joining the register now to save lives in the future. Without you, there is no cure.”
For more information on Anthony Nolan visit: www.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.
