Local MP, Rebecca Pow has joined with Anthony Nolan to thank 1,033 people in Taunton Deane who have registered with the charity as stem cell donors.
The figure places the constituency in the top half of the UK (244 out of 650) in terms of the number of potential lifesavers registered in the area. 38 % per cent of the community’s registered donors are male, and the average age is 38. Young men aged 16-30 are the most likely to be asked to donate to give someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder a second chance at life.
The figures come from Anthony Nolan’s Communities versus Blood Cancer campaign, which celebrates the people who have already registered as donors and raises awareness of the shortage of donors that still exists. Young men and people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds are underrepresented on the register, making it difficult to find a match for everyone in need.
In total, 645,000 people in the UK are on the Anthony Nolan register, any of whom could be a match for someone with blood cancer and asked to donate their stem cells to give a patient a second chance of life.
Now, Rebecca Pow is encouraging more people from Taunton Deane, particularly men aged 16-30 and people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, to register as stem cell donors and make sure that a match is available for everyone in need of a transplant.
Rebecca Pow MP said: “I am very proud that Taunton Deane has more than 1,000 people who have selflessly volunteered to give someone a second chance at life. Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure.
“I strongly hope that more people from Taunton Deane will be inspired to sign up and show that together, our communities can provide a cure for blood cancer.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “We’re grateful to all the registered donors in Taunton Deane for helping us in our goal of saving and improving the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.
“Anthony Nolan’s pioneering research, dedicated nurses and patient-focused services mean we have increased the support patients receive at every stage of their transplant journey – but without the contribution of selfless donors, our vital work would be impossible.”
For more information about Anthony Nolan, visit www.anthonynolan.org