Sheffield students’ work to save lives

Such is their success, that they are celebrating recruiting 1000 people plus to the register since September.

Speaking at the recruitment event where the group passed their target of 1000 sign-ups, Rachel Sheard, society president, said, ‘We want to say a big thank you to every person who took the time to stop and do something wonderful by signing up and becoming a potential lifesaver at one of our events.

“What’s amazing is that out of this 1000 people recruited, we can expect 10 people to go on to provide life-saving stem cell donations.”

Sheffield Marrow is a student volunteering group, comprised of students from the city’s two universities, which works with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan to help recruit healthy young donors onto their bone marrow register.

Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with blood cancer, such as leukaemia, by matching them to people willing to donate their bone marrow, or blood stem cells, for lifesaving transplants.

Rachel explained how quick and easy it is to join the register.  It’s a simple case of filling in a form and having a cheek swab, she said.

Currently the society is supporting a patient appeal for 41-year old mum, Astrid, who has acute myeloid leukaemia and needs a lifesaving stem cell donor.

Astrid said:”The thought of not seeing my sons grow up is unbearable to me. I have only a few months left to find the right donor.” 

Learn more about Sheffield Marrow on their Facebook page. If aged 16-30 and in good health, you can register to be a match online at www.anthonynolan.org.