Esther was just 16 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 20 when she received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. She is now studying Physics at University College London and would like to say thank you to Marrow student volunteers around the UK.
Esther, aged 22, says, ‘That one person who signed up turned out to be the match I desperately needed. They may never have signed up if it wasn’t for volunteers raising awareness and recruiting new donors.
‘Sometimes, a bone marrow transplant is a person’s last resort, their last hope of life. A registered donor who turns out to be a match for this person could be their saving grace! But these potential donors need to know what to do and how to join the register. I didn’t know anything about bone marrow transplants before 2011, and then I needed one to save my life. Marrow volunteers are raising awareness and even getting just one person to sign up to the register that goes on and saves a life, is a huge accomplishment.
‘When I hear about people volunteering their time I feel very grateful and also proud. The fact that students are helping to recruit donors who will potentially save lives is very humbling. By mobilising students now, we can ensure a better future for registries worldwide, saving lives.
‘I want to say thank you to all the Marrow volunteers and tell them to keep up the good work! 25% of UK donors are recruited by Marrow student groups - I can’t even imagine the countless lives saved thanks to them!
‘There is not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my donor, I have no idea who this person is, but I am just so grateful. These feelings are overwhelming, and by volunteering you can share in the excitement and joy in knowing you helped potentially save someone’s life!’
Marrow groups are run by 600 student volunteers who recruit new potential donors to the bone marrow register and fundraise for Anthony Nolan. Each year, they recruit 9,000 new potential donors to the register and raise £100,000 for the charity. You can find out more about the student university groups or other ways that yYou can help the charity.