ROUND TABLE members in Coventry are urging young men to sign up as stem cell donors to a lifechanging donor charity.
Anthony Nolan matches individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood cancer and blood disorders who desperately need lifesaving transplants.
In 1986, Round Table clubs across the UK and Ireland were instrumental in adding 100,000 new names to the Anthony Nolan register.
And now, after 30 years of working together, Round Table and Anthony Nolan are continuing their successful relationship as Coventry Round Table urges more young men to join the charity.
Statistics have shown that the majority of people have a one in 900 chance of being accepted to donate, though young men have a one in 200 chance – part of the reason why Coventry’s two Round Table clubs are eager to attract male donors.
Mark House, national president of Round Table, is urging young lads to get involved.
He said: “Men aged between 16 and 30 are the most in demand as stem cell donors – yet they make up just 15 per cent of the Anthony Nolan register.
“Round Table clubs were instrumental in getting Anthony Nolan to where it is today, and as a young man’s organisation I hope we can encourage more men to join the donor register.”
Joining the stem cell register involves filling out a form and providing a saliva sample – a straightforward process carried out as an outpatient procedure which could potentially save a life.
Ann O’Leary, head of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: “We’re delighted to restart our lifesaving partnership with the Round Table.
“We urgently need more people, especially young men to join the register.
“Our original collaboration with Round Table added a huge number of potential donors to the register.
“This time around we want to reach young men in particular and we look forward to seeing how the campaign takes off in the Coventry Three Spires area.”
Visit anthonyNolan.roundtable.co.uk if you’re interested in finding out more about Anthony Nolan and Round Table.
