Jersey rugby players lead drive to recruit potential stem cell donors

Islanders are being asked to put their names down on the stem cell register as Jersey Friends of Anthony Nolan marks 30 years of finding potential life-saving donors.

The Jersey Friends of Anthony Nolan is hoping to recruit as many people as possible at a charity event tonight (30 April) at Jersey Rugby Club. 

The charity hopes that someone who bravely signs up could be a potentially life-saving match for a fellow islander with blood cancer. 

READ MORE: Search Continues To Find A Match For Tony

30 players from Jersey Rugby Club are expected to put their names down on the stem cell register tonight. 

Jersey RFC's Dom Mayo says his friend's experience of cancer has inspired him to get involved tonight:

"With what my friend is going through in Bournemouth at the moment, I just couldn't say no.

"You can save someone's life by donating, and there's quite a few of us that are going to sign up.

"As a team, I explained to a couple of lads what my friend is going through and they did not hesitate. They said yes straight away."

This is the charity's first event since the pandemic and will take place at the St Peters' grounds tonight from 6pm. 

It is part of a year of initiatives to mark the Jersey Friends' 30th anniversary.

Chair of the volunteer Jersey Friends group, Tim Hicklin, who himself is a survivor through stem cell donation, said:

“I am proud to be associated with such a hardworking and dedicated group of people. Despite the pandemic, changes in peoples’ lifestyles and financial pressures on households, the Jersey Friends have worked tirelessly to maintain our programme of events to both raise awareness of and raise money for the lifesaving work of Anthony Nolan.

“Our thanks also go to the people of Jersey, not only for their incredible support of our fundraising activities, but also their amazing engagement with our recruitment events over the years, in coming forward to register as potential stem cell donors.  Quite a number of Islanders have gone on to donate cells and actually save patients’ lives, which is remarkable."

The Jersey Friends have raised £690,000 for Antony Nolan over the past three decades.  That is enough to fund 17,250 new donors on the register.