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Education about stem cell donation, used to treat patients with blood cancers and blood disorders, could encourage up to 55,000 young people a year join the UK stem cell register, the charity Anthony Nolan has revealed today.

A new subject called Health Education will be compulsory in all state-funded schools in England from September 2020 and Anthony Nolan is urging the Department for Education to add stem cell donation to statutory guidance which already covers blood and organ donation for secondary school pupils.

Anthony Nolan is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2018 Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards (ANSAs).

Finalists in 16 categories will be recognised in Anthony Nolan’s annual event, celebrating supporters, which takes place next month (Thursday 22 November) at the Tower of London.

Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, says: ‘Congratulations to everyone who has being shortlisted in the 2018 Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards.

A father from County Down is calling for more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors, after his son was told he urgently needs a stem cell transplant to treat his cancer.

Thomas Cafolla, 22, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in October 2017. He had just begun a placement year in London, as part of his hospitality course at Ulster University, when he started feeling unwell. 

Thomas’ father Michael said: ‘He was having night sweats and feeling particularly tired, but initially we put it down to a change in environment and the stress of working in a busy hotel.

*UPDATE* On Saturday 13 April Micky, sadly, died at home surrounded by his family. Our heartfelt best wishes are with Micky’s parents Lisa and Dave and older sister, Kharis.

‘I never want to see another family go through this, it’s heart breaking’.

A mother from Essex is calling for more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors, after she was told her young son urgently needs a transplant to treat his rare cancer.

The mother of two five-year old twins desperately needs a stem cell transplant to treat acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer. Meena Kumari-Sharma and her family are campaigning to raise awareness of the need to recruit more donors to the Anthony Nolan register.  

A mother-of-five from Bury, whose youngest twin daughters were both diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, is trying to encourage more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors. Both Pixie-Rose and Presley-Pearl Sellars, two, were diagnosed with myelofibrosis and myelodysplasia, a rare blood disorder affecting the bone marrow.

Today NHS England announced a groundbreaking new treatment using CAR-T therapy will be available to children and young people with leukaemia. 

Simon Butler, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Anthony Nolan says: 

'This is very promising news for children and young people with leukaemia and we welcome this treatment being made available by the NHS.

Anthony Nolan is working with the Blood Cancer Alliance this September to “Make Blood Cancer Visible” this Blood Cancer Awareness Month. 

This year the campaign calls for governments in the UK to give blood cancer the priority and recognition it deserves, starting with clear long-term commitments in their next cancer plans.

A touring exhibition of statues shine the spotlight on patient stories, including that of Peter McCleave, a 40-year-old husband and father of two. 

Over 10,000 people have signed up to become potential stem cell donors, in support of a six-year-old who desperately needs a transplant to save his life.

Marley Nicholls, from Newport, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare blood disorder affecting the bone marrow. His family have been told that his best chance of survival is a stem cell transplant from a matching stranger.

After it was revealed that Marley’s younger brother George, 4, wasn’t a suitable match, we sprang into action and are now searching for a matching donor.