Celebrating the 1,762 potential lifesavers in Pendle this Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Residents in Pendle have been praised by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan for the people in their community who are registered as stem cell donors.
To mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Andrew Stephenson MP has revealed that Pendle is 2nd in the North West for having the most stem cell donors on the register. Andrew Stephenson MP collected a certificate on behalf of Pendle from the charity at a reception on Wednesday 12 September in Westminster.
This achievement is being celebrated by Anthony Nolan as part of its Communities vs Blood Cancer campaign – which shines a spotlight on the vital work being done at a local level to ensure every patient in need of a stem cell transplant can find a lifesaving donor.
In Pendle, 1762 potential stem cell donors are registered with Anthony Nolan. 40% of these donors are male, and the average age is 38.
In total, more than 700,000 people in the UK are on the Anthony Nolan register, any of whom could be a match for someone with blood cancer and asked to donate their stem cells to give a patient a second chance of life.
Now, Andrew Stephenson MP is encouraging more people from Pendle, particularly men aged 16-30 and people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, to register as stem cell donors and make sure 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 just 16% of the register. There is also a shortage of donors from non-white and mixed-race backgrounds.
Andrew Stephenson MP said: “I am very proud that Pendle has 1,762 people who have selflessly volunteered to give someone a second chance at life. Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure. I strongly hope that more people from our community will be inspired to sign up and show that together, we can provide a cure for blood cancer.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “Since 1974 thousands of caring, selfless people have joined the Anthony Nolan register and thousands of lives have been saved as a result. This Blood Cancer Awareness Month residents can be proud of all the lifesavers in your community. It’s wonderful to have the support of Pendle in achieving our goal of saving and improving the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.”
For more information about the Community vs Blood Cancer campaign visit www.anthonynolan.org/communities
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.
