The Anthony Nolan Trust, the life-saving leukaemia charity, has announced that it has formed a partnership with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) in an attempt to encourage more people to join its bone marrow register.
The Anthony Nolan Trust saves lives by managing and recruiting new donors to the UK’s most successful bone marrow register, as well as undertaking vital research leading to improvements in the effectiveness and safety of bone marrow transplants.
Every 21 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with leukaemia or a related illness and for some patients a bone marrow transplant is the only cure.There are currently over 392,000 people on the Charity’s register, but it’s simply not enough. Now, as a result of this new partnership, people who attend a SNBTS blood donation centre in Scotland will be made aware of the Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow register, and will be given the opportunity to join.
Angela MacVicar, donor recruitment manager from The Anthony Nolan Trust, said: “This is a tremendous gesture by SNBTS to offer to partner with the Charity, and it will certainly help us to increase our register here in Scotland.
“At any one time, there are approximately 16,000 patients throughout the world who are looking to find a suitable bone marrow donor, so there is always an urgent need to recruit more donors to increase their chance of receiving a transplant.
“Every individual that joins the register could potentially save a life, as they may be the only person in the world who is a match for a patient with a life threatening illness. So it really could be one of the most important and rewarding steps that an individual ever takes.”
Dr Rachel Green, clinical consultant, says, “SNBTS are delighted to promote the Anthony Nolan Trust’s bone marrow register to the 1,000 donors who give blood every day.”
Dr Anne Parker, lead clinician for Haemato-Oncology services in Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board, is responsible for co-ordinating adult bone marrow transplant services. Dr Parker said: "Providing more opportunity for individuals to register as volunteer bone marrow donors is important. The partnership between the Health Boards, SNBTS and the Anthony Nolan Trust will provide the best chance for patients who need a transplant to find a donor quickly and easily."
Since its launch in 1974 The Anthony Nolan Trust has succeeded in giving the chance of life to over 5,000 patients. To join the register individuals need to be 18-40 years old, in good health and fully committed to undergo the donation procedure if required.
