A Bearsted resident and local rugby referee, Nick Buttle, faces a race against time to find a matching bone marrow donor to provide the lifesaving transplant he needs to beat leukaemia. Doctors have told Nick, 56, that he may need a transplant after being diagnosed in May 2009 with advanced plasma cell leukaemia. Nick’s medical team have asked The Anthony Nolan Trust to find a donor from the charity’s register, but a suitable match hasn’t yet been found.
Now Nick, together with his partner, Deborah Evans, the Maidstone Rugby Football Association and The Anthony Nolan Trust, are appealing for people to attend a special session in Maidstone, to join the charity’s register. The session will take place at Maidstone Rugby Club, on Willow Way, Maidstone, ME15 7RN (near the Maidstone Leisure Centre), between 5pm and 9pm on Thursday 10th December.
Deborah, former Tourism Manager at Maidstone Borough Council, said, “You don't often get a chance to make such a profound difference to someone's life like joining The Anthony Nolan Trust’s register. Even if you aren't a match for Nick, you might be the only matching donor for someone else who needs your help - so please come along on Thursday evening just to register.”
Karen Archer, Donor Recruitment Manager for The Anthony Nolan Trust, explained, “70% of patients needing a transplant can’t find a compatible donor from within their families. Nick is one of them and is relying on the generosity of strangers to come forward and sign up to be a potential donor. Nick’s brother, Francis, who flew over from Australia to be tested to see if he could donate to his sibling, is not of the same tissue type. Please come along to find out more - if you’re not a match for Nick, you could save the life of one of 16,000 other people in need of a transplant.”
For more information on The Anthony Nolan Trust, visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0303 303 0303.
