DKMS Wiltshire Volunteer Hub

05/07/2022

Would you cheek swab to save a life?

Are you 17-55 and in general good health?

Please visit Dkms.org.uk/Wiltshire to find out more.

Yesterday we received and processed 1,206 swab kits, they are now making the journey to the lab to get you lovely people on the blood stem cell registry.

We are thrilled that we've had a boost in kit requests in the past few weeks, remember to return your swab kit so we can complete your registration ❤️

22/06/2022

🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🌈

Did you know? 🤔

Your sexual identity won’t affect your eligibility to become a potential blood stem cell donor.

We register anyone who is in good general health and between 17-55 years of age.

Dkms.org.uk/Wiltshire has lots of information plus the link to sign up.

10/06/2022

Become a lifesaver today!

You only need to be 17-55 and in general good health. Please visit dkms.org.uk/Wiltshire for more information.

09/06/2022

Are you aged 17-55 and in general good health?

Please consider signing up as a potential blood stem donor....

To find out what's involved in that process, please visit dkms.org.uk/wiltshire where you can source lots of information.

Together, we can delete blood cancer.

28/05/2022

It's World Blood Cancer Day today. Perhaps you might consider using this day as inspiration to sign up as a potential blood stem cell donor?

You only need to be 17-55 and in general good health. Dkms.org.uk/wiltshire has lots of information on what is involved in signing up.

To become a potential blood stem cell donor you just have to check your eligibility and request a swab kit.

27/05/2022

Its a big day tomorrow with it being World Blood Cancer Day but what exactly does that mean? Answers are on hand ⏬⏬⏬

World Blood Cancer Day 2022 is 28 May, celebrating 31 years since DKMS was founded and the 11 million potential donors DKMS has registered worldwide.

13/04/2022

Can you help Shahera? Are you 17-55 and in general good health? Please visit dkms.org.uk/Wiltshire where you can find out about becoming a potential blood stem cell donor.

Please share.

Thank you.

Https://asiansuk.com/lifestyle/shahera-dkms-blood-stem-donation/

Shahera is from British Asian heritage, this makes it harder to find a matching donor for her, 37% compared to 72% for European counterparts.

07/03/2022

Please help Ethan....

If you are 17-55 and in general good health then you can sign up as a potential blood stem cell donor. Dkms.org.uk/wiltshire has lots of information on what's involved. Initially the process involves cheek swabs sent directly to you on the post.

Thank you.

PLEASE SHARE! 🙏

Ethan, 10, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in December 2021 after initially being rushed to hospital with suspected leukaemia.

Could you be his perfect match? Request a swab kit to join the register today: https://bit.ly/3MlEPVA

Ethan is a typical 10-year-old who loves to play Xbox, spend time with his brother Ryan, and sister Amy, and play football with his best friend, Harry.

After finding out that no one in his family is a suitable match, he is now in need of a blood stem cell transplant from a stranger 💕

Tracy, Ethan’s mum, is urging anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health to join the DKMS stem cell register. “It is so important to register simply because you could save a life and it’s such a simple, selfless thing to do.” You can do so here: https://bit.ly/3MlEPVA

Tracy is also keen for those already on the DKMS register to check that their contact and address details are still up to date. Ethan had three potential matches who did not respond when they were contacted, so the search is still ongoing.

18/02/2022

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2022-02-16/antrim-boy-finds-his-superhero-as-stem-cell-donor-match-confirmed

Fantastic news showing the power of a donor!

If you are interested in signing up then please visit Dkms.org.uk/wiltshire. You only need to be 17-55 and in general good health.

Seven-year-old Olcán found his stem cell donor match just weeks after his appeal to the public. | UTV News

23/01/2022

Signing up as a potential blood stem cell donor is so easy to do! You only need to be 17-55 and in general good health.

You could be the lifesaving match a patient with a blood cancer or blood illness who treatment unfortunately has not worked.

For full details and information please visit dkms.org.uk/Wiltshire.

Thank you.

18/01/2022

Barry tells us exactly what it's like to donate stem cells.

If you are interested in becoming a potential lifesaving blood stem cell donor then please visit Dkms.org.uk/wiltshire for more information.

Thank you.

“Stem cell donation is an amazing and extraordinary thing, and I had the privilege to experience it.” ✨

Barry signed up to the DKMS register back in 2019, after seeing Al Murray's plea for donors on Good Morning Britain.

Just 18 months later, he received a phone call and heard those magical words: ‘You’re a potential match’.

“I was a little nervous, but mostly happy to have the opportunity to do an act of kindness for another human being.

“After hearing I was the chosen match, I spoke to a few family members and close colleagues about what I was about to do. They would tell me what an extraordinary and amazing thing it was. But I didn’t see it that way, in my mind it was ‘just what we do’.

“Before the donation, I was given a four-day course of G-CSF injections which would stimulate the growth of stem cells in preparation for the day. There are options for this but I decided to self-inject. I am the worst when it comes to needles but I really wanted to challenge myself with the task.

“The first one was hilarious, I was sweating and wincing as I slightly squeezed my belly. Slowly (and with lots of funny noises) the first one went in. After that the rest were easy. 💉

“On the day of the donation I was introduced to the staff, who explained everything. They were absolutely amazing. The time spent donating went super fast and was much easier than expected.

“Before I knew it my donation was over. They collected a staggering 11.08 million cells out of the 10 million needed. 😲

“A few days after donating I received a call from DKMS to talk about next steps. They told me that I had helped a child in Russia. I smiled so much - it wasn’t the ‘who’ that made me smile, it was the ‘knowing’.

“After the call, I tried to explain to my fiancée about what I knew. As the words left my mouth I broke down in tears. For those that know me, this doesn’t happen, but the thought of this innocent child so far away with this awful illness was hard to digest.

“She held me and said “but Barry, because of you they have a chance”. It was then I finally understood that this was in fact an amazing and extraordinary thing, and I had the privilege to experience it.

“My goal now is to tell my story to as many people as I can, in hope of inspiring others into sharing an experience like mine.” ❤️

18/01/2022

If you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, please consider signing up as a potential stem cell donor. Dkms.org.uk/wiltshire has lots of information and details about signing up. Thank you ❤️