The people of Leicester signed up to our register en masse yesterday in the largest event of its kind to help cancer survivor Rik Basra achieve his dream of signing up 1,000 young people to the register in just one day.
Eight local landmarks hosted stations where people signed up in the hope to one day save a life.
The ambitious plan to target 1,000 young people in one day was the latest initiative by Leicestershire police officer and Leukaemia survivor, Rik Basra, and De Montfort University's Square Mile Programme.
The day kicked off before 9am when Nadine Chamberlain, a First Year De Montfort University Nursing student, was the first to sign up.
By the end of the day the Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign and DMU Square Mile had managed to add an amazing 1020 people to the Anthony Nolan register.
Some of Leicester's best-known faces supported the event including Emile Heskey and cricketer Paul Nixon, Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole and Deputy City mayor Rory Palmer.
Leicestershire's three universities combined to encourage local 16–30 year-olds to give a saliva sample and join the register in the hope of saving strangers fighting blood cancer.
Rik's life was saved after he received a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor through Anthony Nolan in 2011.
Rik and his family have campaigned tirelessly ever since to recruit more donors to the register and went on to set up the The Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign, which works closely with De Montfort University students.
University of Leicester's Marrow Society, a group that supports Anthony Nolan and Loughborough University students are also joining forces for this one off event.
Rik said: "It was very long day but I wasn’t going anywhere until we hit that 1,000 mark.
"When we passed it, I was just overcome with emotion it was an incredible feeling – a real dream come true.
"It’s hard to put into words just how thankful I am to the good people of Leicester.
"I want to thank our army of volunteers who worked so hard to make it all possible and every single selfless person who signed up on the day.
"It was just amazing to see the whole community come together and to potentially give people who desperately need a transplant a second chance at life like me."
Ann O’Leary, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said:
"It’s amazing to see what a difference Rik and his team have made. Rik’s campaign has really galvanised this city and the young people responded in great numbers to reach this incredible milestone.
"We are so proud of The Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign and DMU Square Mile who have worked tirelessly to achieve this goal and it is richly deserved.
"By signing up so many potential lifesavers to our register they have truly made a big difference in the fight against blood cancer."
DMU Square Mile manager Mark Charlton said:
"Even though the target was ambitious, I was confident that we could hit 1,000 sign ups.
"Seeing DMU students, staff and partners and volunteers from across the city pull together to make it happen has been incredible.
"Everyone across the university is so proud of what has been achieved and understand the significance of putting 1,000 more potential life-savers on the register is such a short space of time."
If you would like the opportunity to help save a life, you can apply to join our register here.