The Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow register - Adib Farid urges young people to join
Last updated 25/06/2009 12:16:30
The Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow register - Adib Farid urges young people to join
Student Adib Farid's life was saved after he was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 11 years old. He was one of the lucky ones – a bone marrow donor was found.
Adib, from Hove, has called for more young people to come forward and help save lives by joining the register the Anthony Nolan Trust's register of potential donors.
"Being diagnosed with leukaemia was terrifying for me and my family. But I was very lucky to have found a donor," he explained. "I know that's not the case for many many people. Donating is really a relatively simple procedure and you can save a life. I really think everyone should join the register today."
There are currently 16,000 people worldwide in need of a bone marrow transplant, but because individual genetic makeup is so varied, the chance of finding a suitable donor can be slim.
Many searches for patients are unsuccessful – a bone marrow donor whose tissue type matches theirs could mean the difference between life and death. The blood sample taken at the registration day is tested to establish the tissue type and the results stored on the charity's confidential database.
As a new member of the register the donor receives a registration card and written confirmation of being a potential life saver. A donor may be found to be a match for a patient almost immediately or may wait many years before being asked to donate – and in some cases may never donate at all if there is no match.
Donor Iain Pompei, a firefighter from Surrey said: "To be honest, when I was first asked, it was a lot to take in and I was a bit nervous about it. But then I was excited – it felt really good to be asked and my friends and family all thought it was a great idea. The actual process was incredibly easy.
"I had a couple of injections in the run up to the donation. Then The Anthony Nolan Trust paid for me and my fiancée to stay in a lovely hotel near the hospital. Donating was a bit like giving blood, just over a longer period of time.Everyone was saying how amazing it was that I was doing it, but my fiancée and I did the seating plan for our wedding whilst I was donating – I felt like a bit of a fraud with all the support I got for doing it!"
For more information go to http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk
Read also: Calendar Girls return with a new 2010 calendar for Leukaemia Research