It’s not every day you get to experience a behind the scenes tour of the hallowed ground at Twickenham Stoop but for bone marrow transplant survivor, Alex Hannard and his father David, the dream came true on Good Friday.
Eleven year old Alex was diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disorder (CGD) in 2007 and after a long and hard battle with the illness, he was given a life saving transplant three years ago thanks to an anonymous donor. Alex is now cured of his CGD.
Alex and his dad David at The Stoop
Behind the scenes tour
Alex and David from Uxbridge were given a special behind the scenes tour of the Harlequins home ground and watched the Harlequins beat the Leicester Tigers in the play-offs in the Aviva Premiership.
David Hannard said, ‘It was terrific for us to attend the match as special guests of the Harlequins and Anthony Nolan. We had a fantastic time!
'The game was brilliant and Alex's day was made when he got to meet some of the players including Paul Sackey, and he had a look around the changing rooms and saw the inner workings of the team. He even got to wave a flag as the Harlequins came out onto the field.’
Alex and David met Paul Sackey
Harlequins are one of England’s leading Rugby Union teams, with players including England captain Chris Robshaw and Six Nations Player of the Championship, Mike Brown.
Raising money to save more lives
Ten dedicated Anthony Nolan volunteers (and rugby fans!) collected over £730 to help us save more lives, by matching remarkable people willing to donate their bone marrow to patients in desperate need of a transplant.
Alex Hildrew, Head of Community Fundraising at Anthony Nolan, said, ‘In the time it took to watch the Harlequins match, four people were diagnosed with blood cancer.
‘The money we raised on Good Friday will go towards recruiting new donors. It costs us £100 to recruit, test and look after each potential bone marrow donor – any one of them could be a lifesaving match for someone with blood cancer.
‘Fortunately, Alex was able to find a donor match. But at the moment, we can only find a suitable donor for around half the people who need a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. The more we raise, the more lives we can save.’
Alex got a changing room tour and met some of the mascots
Help us kick out blood cancer
We're encouraging rugby supporters to join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register and potentially cure someone of blood cancer.
‘We were able to get the message to young rugby fans in the audience that we urgently need more fit young men aged 16–30 on the register, as they are most likely to be chosen to donate in a transplant, but they only make up 12% on our register.
‘We’re delighted the Harlequins stood shoulder to shoulder with us and helped boot blood cancer to the side-lines!’
To join the Anthony Nolan register, you need to be aged between 16 and 30, and be in general good health.