Rick Harrold volunteers as part of the student group Sheffield Marrow. They recruit new donors to the register and fundraise for Anthony Nolan.
Rick says, ‘What sold volunteering for me was the friendly and welcoming team around us and the enthusiasm shown by current Marrow members.
‘For me, the most satisfying part of volunteering is when we get large numbers of people signed up to the bone marrow register. This year, we were able to run a huge fundraising gig with Adam Kay, recruited more volunteers than ever before, and smashed our donor recruitment target – we signed up over 1000 people!
‘Anthony Nolan has supported the society in many ways and are a very supportive group of people; we are extremely lucky to have their help and advice.
‘Volunteering isn't for everybody, and you have to find a cause that you are passionate about. Marrow and Anthony Nolan are the most welcoming group of people I have come across and manage to make every event as easy as is possible. Everybody you will work with at Marrow and Anthony Nolan is there for the same reason. They work with a passion and drive that can be very hard to find.’
Rick is not the only one motivated to help. Volunteer Katy Burnett, 20, signs up potential donors to the bone marrow register as part of the student group Kent Marrow. Katy’s life was saved by a bone marrow transplant after she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in June 1998 aged five.
Katy says, ‘Volunteering for Anthony Nolan is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. It opened my eyes to how much I could change things in the world and makes me feel like the impossible is possible!
‘Anthony Nolan found me a donor when I needed one, so I have always wanted to help the charity. As a volunteer, I have been able to help Anthony Nolan spread awareness, recruit more potential donors and potentially help save the lives of more people needing transplants.
‘Anthony Nolan were in constant contact with me whilst setting up Kent Marrow and helped us to find our feet in our committee roles. The staff came down to do our first ever training event and have been very supportive over the whole process. All the team are very contactable and supportive in the whole process; they make you feel like they 'have your back' to help you push forward and become successful.
‘As a volunteer recruiting potential donors, you could find that one donor for someone who needs a transplant. It is worth all the effort you put it as you could be partly responsible for saving someone's life.’
Katy and Rick are part of a team of over 600 student volunteers who recruit potential donors to the bone marrow register across 44 universities in the UK. Each year, Marrow volunteers recruit over 9,000 potential donors to the register. This accounts for one third of people recruited to the Anthony Nolan register at events in the UK. They also raise over £100,000 for Anthony Nolan each year. You can find out more about the student university groups or other ways that you can help the charity.
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