Kent University student Katy Burnett is leading a campaign to recruit more potential donors to the bone marrow register after her life was saved by a bone marrow transplant.
Katy was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in June 1998, aged five.
Katy, 20, says, ‘I remember everything very clearly. The doctors told us that we needed to find a bone marrow donor within a year to cure my cancer. It was devastating for my family. From being a normal five year old child and playing with my older sister, I was suddenly in and out of hospital and having lots of tests.’
Anthony Nolan searched the worldwide bone marrow registers for a donor. There was only one person on the registers in the world who was a suitable donor for Katy.
Katy had her bone marrow transplant in April 1999. The bone marrow transplant was successful but Katy relapsed and had further side effects. Katy got the all clear two weeks before she turned 18, on 8th November 2011, having battled with leukaemia for 13 years.
Katy says, ‘When the doctor told me and my mum that the results showed that I was all clear, we didn’t really know what she was saying and looked confused. The doctor then said “Do you understand what I’m saying? You are in the all clear – you don’t have leukaemia anymore.” My mum and I were overwhelmed. We started crying and hugging each other.’
Katy, who is studying Forensic Science at Kent University, has now set up Kent Marrow with some friends. Kent Marrow is working to recruit more students to the bone marrow register as well as fundraising for Anthony Nolan. The group held its first recruitment event in March and signed up 107 potential donors to the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register.
Katy says, ‘We were surprised when so many people signed up as we were only expecting about 40 people. There was an amazing buzz at the University and everyone was talking about it. We had to extend the event because more people kept coming to sign up and lots of people were asking when our next event would be.
‘So many students don’t realise how easy it is to join the bone marrow register and that in 90% of cases, the donation procedure is similar to giving blood.
‘My parents are really proud of me for helping to set up Kent Marrow and that such a positive thing has come out of my experience. I couldn’t have done anything without our amazing committee and team of volunteers. We’re looking forward to recruiting even more potential donors next year.’
Charlotte Connolly, Regional Recruitment Manager at Anthony Nolan, says, ‘We’re delighted that Katy and her friends have set up a Marrow group at Kent University. We know that young men make the best donors, so University groups are vital to our lifesaving work. If you are aged 16–30 and in good health, you can join the bone marrow register by simply providing a saliva sample.’
Click here to find out more about our Marrow University groups.