Published: Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 12:30
Charity abseiler needs transplant to beat cancer for second time
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Big-hearted John Smith abseiled down the Wallace Monument and raised £800 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.
ALVA policeman John Smith thought he had beaten cancer when he abseiled down the Wallace Monument in May to raise funds for the The Anthony Nolan Trust.
Three months later John is back in hospital and relying on the life-saving leukaemia charity to help him find an urgently-needed bone marrow transplant.
A worldwide search for a matching donor proved unsuccessful and now The Anthony Nolan Trust, together with John’s friends and family, has organised a donor recruitment clinic in Alloa.
People, aged between 18 and 40, are encouraged to attend the clinic in Alloa Town Hall next Wednesday, 10 September, from 4pm to 7pm.
Close friend Graham Ross said, “John has done so much for the charity and as such I hope that people turn out in numbers for the registration day.
“We all take our health for granted but it’s all down to luck and anyone could experience ill health. John is remaining in good spirits and is pleased that this event is going ahead not just from his own point of view but to help others and their families who are facing similar situations.”
Father-of-three John (39) was diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2005.
He achieved remission in October 2005 and the police constable had to undergo a further two year course of chemotherapy but was able to return to work.
In May this year John and his sister-in-law Fiona Kerr raised £800 for the charity after abseiling down the 220ft Victorian gothic monument in Stirling.
Speaking to the Advertiser at the time, John said, “I used to be very active but now my health comes first. I spend as much time with my family as possible.
“The abseil wasn’t as much about raising money as it was about raising awareness on how people can become bone marrow donors. When you give blood, ask for a sample to be sent off to see if you can also donate bone marrow.”
Every 21 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with leukaemia or a related illness and for some patients a bone marrow transplant is the only cure.
Since its launch in 1974 The Anthony Nolan Trust has succeeded in giving the chance of life to over 5000 patients and although there are currently 390,000 people on the register, it is always looking for more.
Angela MacVicar, donor recruitment manager from The Anthony Nolan Trust, said, “At any one time, there are approximately 16,000 patients throughout the world who are in the same position as John, which means there will always be an urgent need to recruit more donors to increase their chance of receiving a transplant.
“John has been such a great supporter of the charity and by abseiling off the Wallace Monument earlier this year he helped us raise over £30,000 which is a tremendous amount.
“It was terrible to hear that he had suffered a relapse but we will do all we can to help identify a donor and that’s why I’m hoping we’ll receive a good turnout at the upcoming clinic.”
To join the bone marrow register you need to be aged between 18 and 40.
For more information on how to register and details of the Alloa clinic, visit the Trust’s website www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0901 8833324.
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