200th Bone Marrow donor reached following surge of donations at the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton bone marrow society has recruited 200 students to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register since September 2015.

The societies work brings together students from all backgrounds to donate stem cells and support blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan in their work to match thousands of potential stem cell donors.

Charlotte Cunliffe, Marrow Programme Lead at Anthony Nolan, said: "There is something remarkable happening at The University of Southampton, with selfless students playing a key role in curing blood cancer and blood disorders.

"Every student who signs up at university has an above average chance to give someone an invaluable second chance of life, and the statistics show that they are responsible for almost a quarter of the potentially lifesaving transplants that Anthony Nolan facilitates in the UK, which is simply incredible."

The University of Southampton is one of over 55 universities that have a ‘Marrow’ society, the name given to blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan’s network of student volunteer groups and societies.

The news comes after the Trust revealed earlier this week that 25 per cent of people who have donated stem cells to blood cancer patients in the last two years in the UK joined the stem-cell register whilst at university.

For the majority of people, receiving stem cells from a stranger is their only chance.

Since 1997, Marrow groups have recruited more than 100,000 potential donors and over 950 of these people have donated.

Typically, around 1 in 1,200 people on the register go on to donate, so Marrow donors are up to 10 times more likely to save a life.

Young people are the most likely to be chosen as they are less likely to have long-term health problems which might delay or prevent donation.

To find out more about Marrow, or to join your local group, visitanthonynolan.org/marrow.

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