Isle of Man companies appeal for lifesavers
21 April 2008
LOCAL COMPANIES APPEAL FOR LIFESAVERS
Every 21 minutes someone is diagnosed with a
potentially life threatening disorder, like leukaemia or aplastic
anaemia where often the only chance of a full cure is to have a
bone marrow transplant. Fewer than 30% of these patients will find
a family member with compatible blood stem cells to donate. For the
rest, an unrelated donor is the only chance.
The Anthony Nolan Trust helps these patients
by holding a register of volunteers who are willing to donate their
bone marrow to a complete stranger, should they share the exact
same tissue type. In most cases this transplant offers the patient
their only chance of survival. In order to recruit volunteers onto
the register, donor recruitment clinics are held where local people
can attend to give a very small blood sample. This sample may be
all that is ever required of you – but you never know, you may turn
out to be a match and go on to save a life. Donating your bone
marrow requires a minor medical procedure and after donating, your
bone marrow replaces itself within 21 days.
The Anthony Nolan Trust in conjunction with
Fairbairn Private Bank, Friends Provident and The Isle of Man
Anthony Nolan Friends Group is appealing to all residents of the
Isle of Man to attend one of the forthcoming donor recruitment
clinics and join the Bone Marrow Register to start saving
lives.
Thursday 1st May 2008 - Fairbairn Private Bank, 4th Floor, St
Mary's Court, 20 Hill Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1EU.
4pm - 7pm.
Friday 2nd May 2008 - Friends Provident International Ltd,
Reception, Royal Court, Castletown, IM1 9RA. 12 -
4pm.
The main criteria for joining the Anthony Nolan Register are:
you must be aged 18-40 years, in good health, weigh more than eight
stone (51kg), not be severely overweight and willing to donate to
any patient you may match. Once you have joined, you will
remain on the register until your 60th birthday.
For more information, please contact the
Anthony Nolan Trust at http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/
or call 020 7284 1234.
Ends
For Further Information:
Janet Taylor or Lesley Allegro
Tel: +44 (0)1624 645000
Notes to Editor:
The criteria for joining the register are very
important, please publish:
New donors must be aged between 18-40 years
old, in good health, weigh over eight stone (51kg), not be severely
overweight and be willing to donate stem cells to ANY patient they
may match.
Key target groups: male donors, young donors
and donors from all ethnic minority backgrounds. More donors
are sought due to shortages from these vital groups.
For more information, please contact The
Anthony Nolan Trust:
Email: newdonor@anthonynolan.org.uk
Website: http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/
24hr donor hotline: 0901 88 222 34 (calls are
charged at 25p per minute)
About The Anthony Nolan
Trust
The Anthony Nolan Trust was founded as a
registered charity in 1974 by Shirley Nolan OBE. The Anthony
Nolan Trust exists to facilitate a transplant for any patient in
the world in need of bone marrow or appropriate cells.
Should a donor ever match to donate stem cells
a short hospital stay is required and the stem cells can be donated
in two ways. Either direct from the bone marrow via the
pelvis under a general anaesthetic (cells will regenerate in the
body within seven days) or after a series of injections to increase
stem cell production, the extra cells are withdrawn from veins in
the arms (similar to platelet donation). Donors have the
choice of donation method and all donations take place in
London. All the donor’s loss of earnings and travel costs are
covered and donors have a full medical prior to donating.
Bone marrow, found in the centre of all large
bones, is the ‘factory’ where new blood cells are made.
Without it our bodies would be unable to produce the white cells
needed to fight infection or the red cells needed to carry oxygen
and remove waste products from organs and tissues. Absence of
healthy bone marrow also prevents the production of platelets,
which help blood to clot and stop bleeding.
About Fairbairn Private
Bank
Fairbairn Private Bank operates a
comprehensive private and personal banking operation on behalf of a
wide range of clients. These include private individuals, small and
large companies, trusts, governments and institutional investors. A
full range of banking, investment, trust and corporate services can
be accessed through its offices in the Isle of Man, Jersey and its
representative office in South Africa.
Fairbairn Private Bank is a member of the Old
Mutual Group.
When referring to Fairbairn Private Bank –
please ensure that the company name is printed in full and not
abbreviated.