An Arbroath soldier was given special permission whilst serving in Iraq to interrupt his tour and return to the UK to become a bone marrow donor.
Tank Crewman Lance Corporal Marc Munro, 24, who serves with Germany based Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was in the middle of a six month tour when he got the call that he was a positive match for someone who was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.
And despite having to leave his important post as a Challenger 2 tank crewman near Basra his commanding officers were in no doubt as to the importance of getting Marc back to the UK as quickly as possible to make the donation.
“They don’t let people go easily when you’re on tour in Iraq, but my bosses were incredibly supportive. Within four hours they cleared it and within a week they flew me back to London,” said former Arbroath High School student Marc who joined the army in 2000.
Marc was invited to donate some of his bone marrow after he joined the Anthony Nolan Trust’s bone marrow register three years ago when the charity held a clinic at his barracks in Germany in an attempt to find positive bone marrow matches to help people suffering from leukaemiaThe Anthony Nolan Trust is now planning to hold another clinic at the German army base early next year.
“I was on my third tour in Iraq when I got the call to say I was definitely a match for someone. I felt so lucky and privileged. It’s really tough being in Iraq – getting cracking good news like that makes a massive difference, added Marc who has also served in China, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Canada.
“I landed in London in early June donated the bone marrow and was back home in Germany within two days and I felt completely fine. The most amazing thing is that you know your bone marrow is going straight off to someone who urgently needs it. You know you’re potentially saving a life.”
Alex Frazier, Senior Communications Officer at The Anthony Nolan Trust said: “We are delighted that Marc rushed home from Basra to donate his bone marrow to a stranger. It is an incredible gift to save someone’s life. The problem the charity faces is there are just not enough individuals like Marc registered. For many patients in need of a transplant the chance of finding a suitable donor can be slim and their time is rapidly running out. Please find out you can join the bone marrow register and save a life by calling The Anthony Nolan Trust on 020 7284 1234”.
Marc who also plays the drums for the Pipes and Drums band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards added: “My mates thought it was a really good thing – they were all very happy for me. My family was really supportive, although my granny was quite worried. In fact, she didn’t want me to do it at all, but I explained it all to her, and then it turned out that she knew someone who’d been given three months to live a year ago, but had then received a bone marrow transplant and is now absolutely fine – then she was very supportive. They’re all really very proud of me now,”.
To find out more about joining the Anthony Nolan Trust’s Bone Marrow Register call 020 7284 1234 or visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk
