Back in 2014, Holly’s brother Cameron was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of fourteen. Within months it became apparent that Cameron’s condition was not improving despite undergoing treatment, with the best option moving forward being a lifesaving stem cell transplant. After testing it was determined that Holly was a perfect match so would be the best possible donor for her brother. At 11, she was too young to donate her stem cells peripherally through blood, so she donated via her bone marrow. By Christmas, Cameron was back home and was able to begin recovery.
Established in 1978, the World Transplant Games are a series of sports events held to celebrate successful organ and tissue donation. The games see hundreds of people in the transplant community gather from across the globe. Donors, recipients, and supporters unite and take part in a range of sports every year. In 2017, the World Transplant Games Federation received recognition from the International Olympic Committee, as an organisation that plays a pivotal role in motivating and supporting the global transplant community. In particular, the games encourage leading an active life and continuing to practise sport following a transplant.
Holly and Cameron, now 20 and 23 years old, are both living life to the fullest. Having been competitive skiers pre-transplant, they reflected on the games, stating that they “cherished the opportunity to re-enter the world of competitive sport. Achieving so highly at the World Transplant Winter Games holds great significance to us, considering the uncertainty we faced a decade ago.”
Cameron described how fortunate he felt, a decade on from transplant: “Not all people in my situation are so lucky to have a sister who was both a perfect bone marrow match, and willing to make the donation.”
With only one in three in need of a transplant finding a familial match, the other two thirds of patients rely on the altruism of an unrelated donor to get a second chance at life. The support of charities like Anthony Nolan provide hope to those in need. Anthony Nolan helps to find matches for those with blood cancer and blood disorders by recruiting potential donors onto the stem cell register. They also carry out research to help make transplants more effective, as well as provide the best care possible for people affected by transplant.
Marrow is Anthony Nolan’s network of student volunteers. Newcastle Marrow, along with other Marrow groups in universities across the UK, help recruit new donors onto the Anthony Nolan stem cell register, as well as raise lifesaving funds. If you are interested in getting involved with Marrow, you can join via the NUSU website or find out more information via the @NCLMarrow Instagram page.
Every year, 2,300 patients start their search for a matching stem cell donor. By signing up to the Anthony Nolan register, you could save one of these lives.
by Hiruni Fernando and Holly McGregor-Ogden