Local MP Caroline Dinenage supports Delete Blood Cancer UK’s recruitment of potential blood stem cell donors this Valentine’s Day.
While many people will be looking for a romantic match for Valentine’s Day, the donor recruitment charity says that around 1,800 people in the UK with blood cancer are searching for someone with a matching tissue type who could help save their life by donating some of their blood stem cells to them.
For many blood cancer patients, a blood stem cell donation from another person is their only chance of survival. A matching donor not being found doesn’t mean that there is nobody with a tissue type compatible with the patient. There could be someone with a tissue type that matches the patient’s, but tragically, they may not be registered as a potential blood stem donor.
You can register in five minutes online and request a cheek swab kit which will enable you to do your own tissue test to become a potential blood stem cell donor: www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk.
Emphasising how important it is for local people to register, Caroline said:
“For people suffering from blood cancer, stem cell transplants are an increasingly important treatment to manage their disease and improve survival rates. However, I know that some people with this terrible disease can really struggle to find a match. Therefore, I support Delete Blood Cancer UK’s efforts to encourage more local people to become blood donors.
“Registering online as a potential blood stem cell donor only takes a few minutes, but it could lead to you giving decades to someone else.”
Jenny Clegg, Head of Communications a Delete Blood Cancer UK, said:
“There are currently 8821 people in Portsmouth & Isle of Wight that are registered as potential blood stem cell donors with Delete Blood Cancer UK. Please take a few minutes this Valentine’s Day to register to see if you could be someone’s lifesaving match.”
