Anthony Nolan Trust - Clubhouse

Nessie

12/09/2002 at 15:45

I just noticed a thread on the London Marathon forum where a runner is planning raising money for the ANT this year. A very worthwhile cause (I know 3 people who have had marrow transplants), but fundraising is only half of the battle. They need as many people as possible to register their blood type to enable a match to be found for those waiting for transplants.

So, just to use the forum for good purpose, if anyone out there has considered registering but not got round to it, or has never considered it but might be prepared to do it, why not do it now?

All it takes initially is a blood sample. The Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland can take this when you give blood - I assume it is the same in England.

cougie

pirate

12/09/2002 at 16:11

Good point Nessie. Not sure if the Blood Transfusion do do it here, I had to go to my Doctor to have it taken out.

The register desparately needs more donors, and preferably healthy males are the best - as they have more body mass. (i think)

If you can possibly save a life just by registering, and then some time in the future donating bone marrow....

Your chance to be a hero.

Scotty.

12/09/2002 at 16:20

You can find out more about it and receive details on how to register on www.blood.co.uk

It's something I conveniently keep forgetting to inquire about when I give blood. Next time I promise.

lexi_tate

12/09/2002 at 16:21

Agree completly, my sister is currently waiting for a transplant.
Last time I gave blood they were really pushing the bone marrow donor register so it's really straight forward. www.blood.co.uk for more details

lexi_tate

12/09/2002 at 16:21

Damn beaten to it !!!

fraggle

pirate

12/09/2002 at 16:50

It's a shame, I'm not allowed to give blood as I have rare antibodies in my system (due to having had children) , so I guess this would also be out of the question too.

Nessie

13/09/2002 at 14:28

Boing.

Just in case I can encourage anyone else.

cougie

pirate

13/09/2002 at 14:33

Anyone else get emotional in FLM 2002 ? Running from the back I passed sooo many tee shirts emblazoned with 'Running for my Dad' etc and even a couple with pictures of children on. I really had to bite my lip not to blub at these (and I'm a bloke).

Joining the register is such a good thing to do, and costs you nothing other than effort.

Jason L

13/09/2002 at 14:39

Cougie, felt the same way at FLM and I'm a bloke too.

Been thinking about doing this since I last gave blood.

Homer Hart

15/09/2002 at 00:05

Boing, this thread needs to be bounced back to the top - I'm on the Anthony Nolan Trust Register and think that every healthy person should be - matches are so rare that the more people on the resgister bring the odds down (or up whichever way you look at it!)

Sign up today.

Dalya

15/09/2002 at 00:21

Guys, just to bring it home more, bone marrow transplantation is my only shot at cure, should my current blood counts deteriorate further. It's still a long shot, but at least it's something...

Bone marrow donation is a very noble cause, and has the added benefit that you do not permanently lose what you give. Your marrow regenerates quickly, and the soreness from donation passes quickly too.

Please register if you can. It's important for leukaemic kids, because their lives can often be saved and a cure gained even with an incomplete match. And for adult onset leukaemia and haemapoetic disorders, it's even more important, because the tissue matching has to be exact in most cases - a very tough call, particularly for ethnic minority groups, but really for everybody.

Please go for it, if you can.

DC

RoboKidney

15/09/2002 at 06:42

I registered via a blood-donor session some years ago (before it was privatised) - but in those days you had to be under 40 to be on the register.
On a broader note, I would like to encourage people to contact their MP's to push for 'presumed consent' in this country. At the moment you have to opt in to the system and after your death your relatives can veto organ donation. Presumed consent would greatly increase the number of organs (and other body tissues) available fot transplantation.
Almost everybody agrees with transplantation, but in recent years the number of transplants has declined - this year it is down by 15% on last year already.

Nessie

16/09/2002 at 13:38

Boing..........again.

Paul Rushton

16/09/2002 at 16:09

If anyone would like information on becoming a potential blood stem cell donor please send an e-mail to running@anthonynolan.org.uk or call 01865 875757.

I would be delighted to send you information on The Anthony Nolan Trust and becoming a potential life saving donor.

Plodding Hippo

16/09/2002 at 18:35

Already om the register
Well done for you all giving blood!

Rich

16/09/2002 at 18:56

BOING, also signed up. Can't think why anybody wouldn't do it.

Plodding Hippo

16/09/2002 at 19:01

You should hear the excuses for not giving blood
Bone marrow donation might be a bit sore after I expect
And the anaesthetic scsares me, but Id still do it

Homer Hart

16/09/2002 at 21:04

Boing

Michelle

16/09/2002 at 21:19

You can definitely register to being a bone marrow donor when you next give blood. This is how I did it.. a few years ago now. I think they just take some extra blood or something - whatever it was, it was absolutely simple as could be. So, next time you give blood - enquire about the bone marrow donor thing too.. just think, you could save someone's life - now that is an achievement!
Michelle x

SS - The Last Unicorn

16/09/2002 at 21:49

Boing

I did try registering when I was 32 - but cos I kept getting anaemic after giving blood they told me not to give blood and not to register. Sorry - can't help but feel guilty - but its not an excuse - its genuine