2019
Council to host bone marrow donor event for local girl
Date Posted: 2:55 PM on Mon, 23 September 2019Gedling Borough Council is hosting a public event to encourage residents and staff to sign up to become bone marrow donors in support of a local girl with a rare bone marrow diagnosis.
14 year old, Isobel Somerton, from Mapperley has a rare disease called Griscelli which affects her blood. Isobel and her family are working with the DKMS, an international non-profit organisation who campaign for people to register to be blood stem cell donors.
The event will be held at the council offices at Arnot Hill Park on Thursday 26 September from 12pm – 4.30pm and council staff and residents will be encouraged to sign up.
People can register at the donor event by filling out a form when they arrive and having a swab taken of the inside of their cheeks to collect cells to be analysed.
If a suitable match is found, they could be asked to donate either through peripheral blood stem cell donation or by bone marrow donation.
Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Often, a blood stem cell donation represents their best chance of survival. Register at the event and you could save the life of someone like Isobel.
Councillor Kathryn Fox, Policy Advisor for Young People and organiser of the event said;
“I’m very proud that the council has agreed to host this donor event. I know Isobel and her family personally and she is an incredible young person who has done a fantastic job of raising the awareness of this rare disease. We are encouraging as many people as possible to attend the donor event, it will only take a few minutes but it could be life changing for Isobel or for others in her situation.”
More information can be provided on the day or found online at www.dkms.org.uk