Each year, thousands of Black and Minority Ethnic families have a loved one that is diagnosed with a life threatening blood related illness, such as leukaemia. Many could be treated with a bone marrow transplant - if a matching donor could be found.
Finding a match
To identify the most suitable person to donate bone marrow, The Anthony Nolan Trust needs to determine the tissue type of the volunteer. This is done by analysing the blood sample given at registration. Our tissue-types are inherited characteristics passed on from our birth parents and what is used and compared against to determine a suitable donor for the patient.
That means there is a GREATER chance of finding a suitable match for the patient if there are a greater number of donors from that ethnic group on the register. At present this isn’t so and needs to change to give every patient a chance of life.
(Left to right) Courageous teenager Yvette in need of a transplant. Six-year old Rianna and 12-year old Carena with her family. These patients all need a life line.You could be the one.
To improve awareness and encourage more individuals from ethnic minority communities to join the Anthony Nolan Register, we are constantly trying to improve our attendance at various events and places.
Some of our activities have included:
- Attending events: Festivals /Carnivals/ Mela
Places of worship: Churches / Mosques & Temples Community gatherings Colleges and universities Corporate Businesses Ethnic media BME workers groups Community leaders and businesses Click here to find out how to join the register
We would like to ‘Thank’ the following for their continued support:
- Newmont Travel – Specialist for flights to the Caribbean/ Africa
The MOBO awards Choice FM The Voice Newspaper The New Nation Newspaper 
A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT REALLY CAN SAVE LIVES!
On the 25 January 2007 Damario Thomas was only 3 months old when he was diagnosed at Great Ormond Street Hospital with a condition called haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) - a rare and life-threatening haematological condition. After his diagnosis Damario began receiving medical treatment including chemotherapy and several other uncomfortable but necessary procedures to keep his illness at bay, unfortunately though the only way of curing his illness was to undergo a bone-marrow transplant. Damario also suffered the loss of his immune system due to the high doses of chemotherapy, which left him prone to infection making the need for a donor even more urgent.
Floretta and Augustine Thomas, parents of Damario in Beckenham, South London decided they wanted to help The Anthony Nolan Trust by highlighting what her new born son was going through and why more Black people should join the bone marrow register.
Fortunately on Wednesday 27th June 2007, after months of campaigning and arranging registration drives,Damario Thomas received a Bone Marrow donation from an unknown male African-American recipient from America. Floretta and Augustine celebrated and continue to 'Thank ' everyone that registered in an attempt to help save their son's life.
They want to remind everyone that there are many, many, and others in desperate need of life saving matches so please join the register.
“I’m really, really grateful if it hadn’t been for that young man who donated his bone marrow to save Damario’s life he wouldn’t be here today”, Floretta Thomas.
Damario celebrated his first birthday on the 23rd December 2007. He is doing incredibly well and causing mischief like any other 1 year old.
You could be the matching donor a patient is searching for.
When you join the Anthony
Nolan Trust Register as a committed donor, you unite with thousands of potential donors who know the importance of being there for a patient in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant. As donating blood stem cells is a living donation, you can make a difference to someone's life during your lifetime.