Local MP for Cheadle constituency, Mark Hunter, is backing Anthony Nolan’s ‘Save a Life At 16’ campaign in a bid to help the charity save the lives of more blood cancer patients.
The campaign sees the charity attempt to persuade HMRC to include details of the Anthony Nolan bone marrow donor register when it writes to young people with their National Insurance numbers in advance of their 16th birthdays.
The charity has pledged to cover all associated costs and hopes this would encourage more 16-year-olds to join the register. This is important as young people are more likely to be chosen as stem cell donors by transplant doctors.
The charity hopes that if young people are informed about the chance to save the lives of people with cancers such as leukaemia, many more will step forward to register, with an increase of up to 25 per cent in the number of young donors predicted.
Commenting, Mark (left) said:
‘The bone marrow register is vital to ensure that the donations necessary to treat anyone are available, whatever their blood type. I am supporting Anthony Nolan’s campaign as more young people are needed; currently under 20s make up just 4% of the register.’
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said:
‘Every year in the UK around 2,000 people with blood cancer need stem cell donations from a stranger. We believe young people are passionate about helping others, but they also need to be well informed about the chances open to them.
‘By agreeing to our proposal, the government can make it easier for people as young as 16 to become lifesavers.’