The family of Joel Picker-Spence, who was just six years old when he died from leukaemia in 2008, are urging members of the public to attend a special event to recruit new donors to the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register.
The event takes place at Eastwood Centre Newark Hospital, in Newark in Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday 11th November, 3pm - 7pm.
Joel’s mother, Anne-Marie Spence, who is organising the Join for Joel event in memory of her son, said, “We started the campaign after he died because we knew that someone had been kind enough to join the register to help Joel. We want to make sure there are donors available for everyone who needs them and there is an urgent and desperate need.”
Jo Buckton from Anthony Nolan said “Joel’s campaign has already recruited thousands of new donors to the register.
Joel was among those relying on the generosity of a stranger and we hope that more selfless strangers join our register in his memory so we can recruit new donors and save more lives.
“What many people don’t realise is how easy it is to join the bone marrow register – it simply involves filling in a form and providing a saliva sample.
90% of donations take place via PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell collection). This is an outpatient appointment and is similar to donating blood.”
How to join the register
To join the register, you must be aged between 16 and 30, weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kgs) and be in general good health. To join online, just click the button below and fill out a short form:
