The call has come from PubAid director and entrepreneur Yaser Martini whose 16 month old daughter Margot has leukaemia and needs a stem cell donor from someone with a similar tissue type as hers in order to survive.
Margot Martini
Margot was diagnosed with Leukaemia on 7 October 2013, at just 14 months old. On arrival at Great Ormond Street Hospital she required an immediate exchange transfusion (new blood) and initially spent ten days in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on life support.
Margot has an extremely rare form of blood cancer and the consultant haematologist said that he has only seen three such cases in the last ten years.
Watch the video of the campaign for Margot
Same tissue characteristics
Caroline Portlock of Delete Blood Cancer UK said “Many blood cancer patients can only survive if, somewhere in the world, someone with the same tissue characteristics in their blood is willing to donate some stem cells (sometimes called ‘bone marrow’ because they originate and are formed in our bone marrow).
"That is why every single new donor counts, since it is very rare that two people have almost identical tissue types. The more people that sign up to join the register, the more people can be matched together, and the more lives can be saved”.
Martini said: “The support that we’ve received from so many people across so many different walks of life has been quite overwhelming. We are touched and feel blessed by so many people want to try and help. Thank you everyone and Merry Christmas & here’s wishing you A healthy and prosperous 2014.”
How to register -
Potential donors are being asked to go to www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk where there is a five minute registration process. You will be sent a kit and need to swab your cheek which will tell if you’re a match.
When asked on the registration form “how did you hear about us” select ‘Team Margot’ from the drop-down box.
You must be aged between 17 to 55 and in general good health. Once registered any potential donar has a one in 500 chance of being asked to donate your stem cells.
Or attend two Donor Registration days on:
LONDON
Sunday 2nd February 2014
Between: 10am – 4pm
at Sheen Montessori Nursery
Palewell Common Drive
London SW14 8RE
WOLVERHAMPTON
Sunday 23rd February 2014
Between: 10am – 4pm
The Mount Hotel
Mount Road, Tettenhall Wood
Wolverhampton, WV6 8HL
Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Y71G4JIR0&feature=youtu.be