Public urged to sign up to stem cell register in major donor drive

A former cancer patient is urging the public to register for stem cell donation at an event in Belfast city centre today (Saturday.)

The major donor drive involves a simple cheek swab at two Royal Avenue and runs until 3pm.

Lesley Calder who is originally from Omagh, is recovering from leukaemia and was given just weeks to live, before she had a successful stem cell transplant from her sister.

She tells us about her health now: "I'm delighted to say that this January I was told I was moving to annual reviews which basically means that everything's stable.

"I feel wonderful I've got my life back."

Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer according to blood cancer charity DKMS.

For some of those patients, a stem cell transplant will be the only way that they can recover.

70% of patients will not find a stem cell match in their family, and rely on the kindness of strangers who are willing to join the register to save their lives.

Currently only 3% of the population is currently signed up to the stem cell donor register, and 4 out of 10 UK patients looking for an unrelated donor are unable to find a match.

Anyone aged between 17 and 55 years old and in general good health can join the register, all it requires is a simple cheek swab.

Lesley is urging anyone eligible to pop in: "My message would be please do it, it's the simplest thing in the world, three little cheek swabs that will get sent away and you'll be able to see if you could be a match for somebody in the future."

• stem cell donation