Colchester lad James Canham donated his bone marrow in January this year to an unrelated recipient.
James, 21, joined the bone marrow register on his 18th birthday. He says, ‘It was really easy and simple to join the bone marrow register. I signed up online and Anthony Nolan sent me a sample pot to spit in. I really hoped that I might be a match for someone.’
James, who is currently studying Biomedicine at Brighton University, says, ‘Out of the blue, I got a letter through the post telling me that I could be a match for someone in need of a bone marrow transplant. I was really excited about it and looking forward to donating. I felt really lucky to be chosen.
‘The donation was a really simple and easy process and everyone was so friendly. Everything was communicated to me really clearly and I knew exactly what was going on. My arm was a bit sore afterwards but, apart from that, I felt fine. The nurse said that I produced lots of stem cells so there were enough to go to the recipient.
‘I felt really excited knowing that I was able to give someone a bit of hope at the start of the new year. I know that it can be a complete cure for blood cancer and at the very least give someone a bit more time to spend with their families. By donating, I have given my recipient the best chance possible.
‘After hearing about how easy it was to donate, a lot of my friends have joined the register too. If you are on the register, you have the chance to help someone. The more people that are on the bone marrow register, the more hope there is for people with blood cancer.’
James is one of the amazing people who donate their bone marrow to people in need of a transplant. If you are aged 16–30 and in good health, you can join the bone marrow register online.
We also have one thousand amazing volunteers who help us recruit new potential donors on to the register. Find out more about this volunteering opportunity here.