Brentford and Isleworth MP encourages people to join the Stem Cell Register

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14 February 2017 BRENTFORD AND ISLEWORTH MP ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO JOIN THE STEM CELL REGISTER Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury is calling for more young people to become potential donors on the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register.The charity has revealed that, in Brentford and Isleworth constituency, there are now more than 1079 selfless people willing to donate their stem cells, or bone marrow, to save the life of a stranger. In total, more than 650,000 people are currently on the Anthony Nolan register.Now, Ruth is encouraging more 16 to 30-year-olds to sign up. She says it is particularly important that young men and people from ethnic minorities join the register as they are currently under-represented.The blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan created the world’s first stem cell donor register, and has been saving lives for over four decades by matching remarkable people willing to donate their bone marrow or stem cells to patients in desperate need of a transplant. It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success, and supports patients through their transplant journeys.Two thirds of UK patients will not find a matching donor from within their families; instead they turn to Anthony Nolan to find them an unrelated donor.Anthony Nolan wants to give people the very best chance of life by finding the best possible match for them. But the charity can currently only find a perfect match for 60 per cent of transplant recipients, so they still urgently need more people to come forward.Ruth said: “I am delighted that 1079 people in Brentford and Isleworth are registered on the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. It is fantastic to see that there are so many heroic and selfless people in my constituency.“I hope that more local people will also now be inspired to sign up and to become potential lifesavers for people in desperate need.”Ann O’Leary, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said: ‘We are delighted that Ruth Cadbury MP has been inspired to encourage others to sign up as donors. Donating is an incredibly selfless thing to do and will give someone with blood cancer the best possible chance of survival. What many people don’t realise is that it is also surprisingly simple.’To join the Anthony Nolan register you must be 16-30 and in good health. It involves filling out a simple online form and spitting into a tube. About 90% of people who are asked to donate will do so through a process similar to giving blood. You can join the register online at www.anthonynolan.org. ENDSFor more information, please call the Anthony Nolan Press Team on 0207 424 1300 or email press@anthonynolan.org. For urgent out of hours media enquiries, call 0844 840 0103.