Former England cricketer and Anthony Nolan ambassador Mark Ramprakash has announced that he will continue his cricketing career as a coach at Middlesex County Cricket Club, the club where he initially made his name as a teenager and where he was playing when he was first selected to represent England.
Ramprakash, who will start his new job this month, says, ”I am delighted to be returning to Middlesex County Cricket Club as batting coach. I began my career at Middlesex as a teenager & am proud to have represented the club for 14 seasons. I have been involved in first class and international cricket for 25 years and whilst my playing career is now over, I am excited about coaching. I’m looking forward to working with and contributing to the current squad.”
Ramprakash has also announced his support for our Reach the Six campaign, which aims to recruit 3,000 new Asian bone marrow donors.
Ramprakash – who is half-Asian himself – hopes to raise awareness of the urgent need for Asian people to sign up as bone marrow donors. Donors from Asian backgrounds are under-represented on the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register, which means that Asian blood cancer patients find it far harder to find a matching bone marrow donor – often their last chance of survival.
Ramprakash comments, “Reach The Six refers to the fact that just 6% of the UK population – the British Asian population – can help save the lives of Asian blood cancer patients. We need every young Asian person aged 16–30 to stand up and be counted, by joining the Anthony Nolan register.”
He adds, “I feel so proud when I think about stepping out onto the cricket pitch, ready to represent our country. But knowing that you’ve helped save someone’s life simply by donating your bone marrow? That would feel absolutely incredible. And what’s even better is that everyone can do it, whether you’ve got an eye for the ball or not. I want every young Asian person to be part of something amazing – the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register.”
To join the register, you simply need to fill in a short application form and provide a small saliva sample. For more information, please visit www.anthonynolan.org/thesixpercent.