Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
To mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month Stewart Stevenson MSP attended a reception in Holyrood, celebrating the 14,000 potential stem cell donors across Scotland on the Anthony Nolan register.
In Banffshire and Buchan Coast 1,293 potential stem cell donors are registered with Anthony Nolan- 21% of these donors are men aged 16-30, and the average age is 32 years old.
Now, Mr Stevenson is encouraging more people from Banffshire and Buchan Coast, particularly men aged 16-30 and people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, to register as stem cell donors and make sure that a match is available for everyone in need of a transplant.
While anyone on the register could be a match for someone with blood cancer, men aged 16-30 are most likely to be asked to donate. They provide more than 50% of donations yet make up just 18% of the register. There is also a shortage of donors from non-white and mixed-race backgrounds.
Stewart Stevenson MSP also had the chance to meet with representatives of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) including Ally Boyle. Ally initiated a ground breaking partnership with Anthony Nolan in 2009, while he was Area Commander of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, after being diagnosed with myelodysplasia (a type of blood cancer). They have recruited thousands of lifesavers to the register, predominantly through their innovative SFRS Education Programme, which sees SFRS volunteers deliver inspiring educational presentations about stem cell, blood and organ donation to 16- to 18-year-olds across Scotland.
Stewart Stevenson MSP said:
“I am very proud that Banffshire and Buchan Coast has 1,293 registered donors- any one of whom could offer someone with blood cancer a second chance at life.
“I would especially like to commend the great work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in engaging local communities, particularly secondary schools across Scotland. They’ve recruited more than fifty people who have gone on to donate. Their steadfast commitment over the past ten years has had a truly lifesaving impact.
“Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure- I’d encourage even more of my constituents to register.”
“I would especially like to commend the great work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in engaging local communities, particularly secondary schools across Scotland. They’ve recruited more than fifty people who have gone on to donate. Their steadfast commitment over the past ten years has had a truly lifesaving impact.
“Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure- I’d encourage even more of my constituents to register.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said:
“In the last year 147 selfless people from Banffshire and Buchan Coast joined the Anthony Nolan register, each one representing hope for patients with blood cancer, and blood disorders, in need of matching stem cell donors.
“This Blood Cancer Awareness Month residents can be proud of all the lifesavers in your community.
“To everyone from Banffshire and Buchan Coast who has taken the decision to join the register, thank you. We rely on young people aged 16-30 joining the register now to save lives in the future. Without you, there is no cure.”
“This Blood Cancer Awareness Month residents can be proud of all the lifesavers in your community.
“To everyone from Banffshire and Buchan Coast who has taken the decision to join the register, thank you. We rely on young people aged 16-30 joining the register now to save lives in the future. Without you, there is no cure.”
For more information on Anthony Nolan visit anthonynolan.org/join.
Anthony Nolan uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer patients in desperate need of a stem cell transplant. It also carries out vital research to make stem cell transplants more successful, and supports patients through their transplant journeys.
