Inverness Fire Fighters Back Bone Marrow Register Plea

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters in Inverness are backing an Anthony Nolan campaign to attract new stem cell donors which it’s hoped will save the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.

Firefighters teamed up with Rhoda Grant MSP and the family of Michaela Ballantyne (a young nurse from Brora who was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplasia (MDS), a blood disorder which affects the production of bone marrow) to highlight the need for people to donate stem cells.

Anthony Nolan is a charity whose work involves finding life-saving matches for patients with illnesses like leukaemia.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters have been working in partnership with the charity since 2009, organising events that have seen over 5,000 potential stem cell donors join the Anthony Nolan Register.

Firefighters joined MSP Rhoda Grant and Michaela at the Eastgate Centre in Inverness to encourage members of the public to sign up. Indeed, firefighters who were at today's event, including White Watch's Will Ford, signed up to the register and then encouraged others to do the same.

Over recent weeks a number of events have been organised to raise awareness of Michaela’s situation.

SFRS Group Manager Fraser Nixon said: “Anthony Nolan is our official charity partner and SFRS staff across Scotland have recruited thousands of potential stem cell donors, leading to a chance of life for at least nine people with conditions like Leukaemia.

“We are delighted to be involved in the event here in Inverness as we recognise the important work Anthony Nolan does. We stand with Michaela and Rhoda Grant MSP in encouraging people to join the register. I was myself on the register for a number of years and we will be encouraging as many of our eligible staff as possible to join.”

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