·       DKMS is urging more people from Liverpool to join the blood stem cell register

·        Last year, lifesaving registrations in Liverpool fell by 54% compared to 2020

·   This follows a shocking national trend, with just over a third (37%) of people registering in the first 3 months of this year compared to last Spring

·   DKMS is urging people to register now, to give someone a second chance at life at dkms.org.uk

 

DKMS is urging people in Liverpool to register as blood stem cell donors to help give a second chance at life for someone with blood cancer. The charity continues to feel the aftershocks of the pandemic which devastatingly impacted the number of people signing-up. Lifesaving registrations in Liverpool have fallen by 54% compared to 2020.

 

There is an urgent need for people to help meet the demand for donations and reverse the decline in registrations. Sadly, Liverpool follows a national trend, with just over a third (37%) of the number of people in the UK registering in the first 3 months of this year compared to last Spring.

 

A stem cell transplant can be the last hope of survival for patients and despite the hope of a return to normalcy, a big push is needed in 2022 to help give those with blood cancer the best chance. A blood stem cell donation from a genetically similar person can offer a second chance at life for those in need.

 

Only 1 in 4 people with blood cancer (and in need of a transplant) will find a matching blood stem cell donor within their own family, which means that those in need of a blood stem cell transplant on the kindness of a stranger. The family of Finn McEwen (13), from Liverpool know only too well how powerless this news makes you feel.

 

Finn was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2015. His case picked up local traction and he met the local Everton football team. Finn had his transplant a couple of months later and it was a success. He is now back at home with his family and going to school, which is fantastic. Finn’s mum, Carole, said:

 

“When Finn’s myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was diagnosed in 2015, and I was told he’d need a stem cell transplant, my whole world was shaken. It’s really hard to know your son’s only shot at a normal life depends on a kind stranger somewhere in the world having registered as a stem cell donor. Registering is so simple and thanks to Covid we’re all used to doing swabs now – this one only involves swabbing your cheek! There are thousands of other families waiting for someone to save their loved one’s life. You never know if someone you love might receive a life changing diagnosis.”

Callum Suttle, (21 years old) pharmacology student in Liverpool signed up to be on the stem cell register after seeing one of his favourite bands post about DKMS on social media. Around a year after Callum signed up as a blood stem cell donor with DKMS he found out he was a match for someone. He donated his blood stem cells via peripheral blood stem cell donation. Callum said:

 

“Signing up to the register can be one of those things that keeps slipping your mind, like giving blood, but it actually doesn’t take that long to do at all. I’d always wanted to sign up to be a donor and when I saw it on my Twitter feed it prompted me to look into it and order the registration kit. It was only a year after I had been signed up that DKMS emailed me to say I was someone’s match.

 

It’s a great feeling knowing you can help someone in this way. It’s so sad to hear the pandemic has led to a decline in registrations as it’s really putting so many blood cancer patients’ lives on the line. We all have a duty to help where we can so it’s important to look into the process and register if you can.”

 

Reshna Radiven, Head of Communications and Engagement, DKMS UK, said:

 

“This is deeply worrying. We have witnessed a huge decrease in registrations since the pandemic took hold. With only 1 in 4 people finding a match within their family, thousands of blood cancer patients rely on the kindness of a stranger.

 

“We urgently need more people to come forward and register, because the more people we have on the blood stem cell register, the more chance there is of our patients finding that perfect match. By signing up, you could be giving someone a second chance at life”.

 

Taking the first steps to register as a potential blood stem cell donor can be done within a few minutes from the comfort of your own home. If you are aged between 17-55 and in general good health you can sign up for a home swab kit online at dkms.org.uk