To mark the end of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Richard Holden MP took part in an event in Parliament to celebrate the fantastic work of Anthony Nolan.
Their foundation helps to save the lives of those with blood cancer. 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.
However, their recent campaign is highlighting the need for more stem cell donors, as men and especially those from 16-30 from minority ethnic backgrounds are the least likely to donate. 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 less than 18% of the register.
Richard comments:
"I am very proud 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."