COVENTRY City will be supporting a boy’s plea for a bone marrow donor at this Sunday’s home game against Shrewsbury Town, and are urging fans to do so too.
Paddy Igoe, from Earlsdon in Coventry, was recently diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia – a serious disease which requires blood transfusions several times a week.
It can be treated with a bone marrow transplant from another individual who has the same tissue type.
The 12-year-old, who is a pupil at Finham Park Seconard School and until a few months ago was a talented footballer playing for Alvis Juniors, has a rare tissue type and no suitable matches are currently registered worldwide.
This has sparked a campaign to help find Paddy a match as soon as possible.
The Coventry City website states: “There will have a group of volunteers on hand at the Coventry City vs Shrewsbury match on Sunday, April 28 running a ‘Swab 4 Paddy’ event, in the Main Atrium and in the Family Zone in the East Stand concourse.
“Those able to register must be between 17 and 55 years of age and in general good health.
“Registering takes around five minutes and involves taking three swabs from the inside of your mouth.”
Lisa Nugent is the Head of Donor Recruitment at DKMS who are supporting Paddy’s cause and has been helping Paddy’s family to find a bone marrow match.
“Paddy’s family are going through a torrid time at the moment, but they’ve been incredibly brave in sharing their story to try and help their son find a match,” she said.
Mark Hornby from Coventry City said: “Paddy has been very much part of the Coventry City community since a young age, attending the Sky Blues in the Community Player Development Centres, and is a keen footballer. Naturally when we heard of Paddy’s situation we were very keen to support him find a bone marrow match.
“We would urge any Sky Blues fans who could be a match to help support Paddys Plea this Sunday, or at any of the other donor events that are planned.”
Other donor events are taking place:
Saturday April 27 – Wasps v Saracens, Ricoh Arena
Thursday May 2 – 3:30pm – 8pm at Earlsdon Primary School
Friday May 3 – 4pm – 8pm at Sacred Heart Primary School
Sunday May 12 – Coventry Food and Drink Festival
Saturday May 18 – From 12pm at Alvis Sports & Social on Green Lane
You can see more information on the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/paddysplea
