Bone marrow register - are you a donor/registered?
 

Anyone here donate bone marrow already? What have been your experiences?

Having just seen the morning telly and two kids on there who will die without finding a match I realised I have never really paid any attention to this serious problem and what is involved to help :rolleyes: They then went onto explain who can help and what you have to do.

They want males in the range of 18-40 years old to register as these are the most likely to be the best matches for donating to help save someones life. I didn't know this was the case and how easy it is to donate if you are a match. Two ways, one is a minor operation and one is by collecting it from your blood stream. You only donate once you have been made a match so the thought of having to go and have a minor medical procedure done for a couple of days which will save someones life seems a no brainer to me.

All it takes is a call to the Anthony Nolan Trust on 09018822234 and leave your name and address and they will send you an information pack on how to be tested (blood test at your GP which is then sent to them) and then become a donor if you become a match for someone at any time in the future.

Also the website is here -> http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/ which explains what is involved and what the committment is.

You can register here to avoid the phonecall if you want -> http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/index.php?location=3.1

I called up and registered and then thought this place has a hell of a lot of blokes in the required age range who may not be registered.

Have a read of what is involved and please register if you think you could go through what is required to help someone.

Mods any chance of making this a sticky to get as many views as possible as if I hadn't seen the TV this morning I would have continued to have been oblivious as to what little is required to help?

If you're already a blood donor - you can usually sign up to be a bone marrow donor at those sessions. If you're not a blood donor, consider becoming one, again a simple way to save lives for an hour of your time 3 or 4 times a year.

bttt

I and my wife have both been on the register for many years, ever since my only sister died of leukaemia. Haven't make it past the second stage of matching yet, though.

Yup - I've been blood donoring for years and joined up at one of those sessions. Easy and hopefully one day, helpful :)