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As Father’s Day approaches this Sunday, grandfather of four Bill Evans has praised his close-knit family for helping him reach the five-year milestone since he had his lifesaving bone marrow transplant, thanks to blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
Bill was diagnosed aged 62 with leukaemia in January 2008 at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.
“Last weekend I celebrated my five years post transplant. There are no words to express my gratitude. Because of Anthony Nolan and the wonderful man who donated his stem cells to me, I’ve been able to see my four lovely grandchildren growing up, my wife and I have celebrated our Ruby wedding and next year I will be 70!”
Bill Evans with his daughter Catherine Burlton
Reflecting on the past five years, proud dad Bill, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, says he ‘wouldn’t be here’ without his wife Jenny and children Christopher and Catherine, who now works for Anthony Nolan.
“Going through this lifesaving process has made our family more close knit than ever. It was tough for everyone, but it was because of them that I was able to keep going – Jenny, Catherine and Christopher were there on every step of my journey.”
Bill and Jenny’s daughter Catherine Burlton now works part time at Anthony Nolan, supporting donors who save the lives of people like her Dad.
Catherine said: “It is a total privilege to be part of Anthony Nolan – without the charity, we wouldn’t have Dad. Mum wouldn’t have her husband. And our children wouldn’t have their grandfather.
“I love the fact that my role is to support our donors post-donation and knowing that at the end of every day someone, somewhere will be undergoing a transplant because of us and what we do - we have given that family the same chance we had.”
Bill Evans and his wife and family on the date of their Ruby wedding anniversary
Bill said: “My wife Jenny and I are very proud that our wonderful daughter Catherine is now part of the Anthony Nolan team. The charity has been helping people like me for forty years, and it has become very important in my life, but before my diagnosis, I honestly had little idea at that time of the charity’s amazing work. I understand now.”
This Fathers’ Day, help us give families like Bill’s more milestones. Find out how you can save more lives here.