Can't Pay we'll take it away Delroy Anglin needs your help to find a donor

Hi folks. Ok, this is my first post in quite some time but I felt compelled to post a message appealing for folk to rally together to help a very nice guy that many of us have seen on the TV series "Can't pay we'll take it away".

Delroy always came across as the sort of chap that , given hobsons choice!, most of us would prefer to be knocking on our door in relation to "financial issues"!. He does a job as a court debt collection agent that often  attracts a lot of abuse ...which he always deals with amicably :-).

In November last year Delroy sadly discovered he had developed Leukaemia and indeed is currently in the care of the Royal Marsden hospital.

Delroy NEEDS A BONE MARROW donor IMMEDIATELY!

Can you or anyone you might know from the African Caribbean community help find him one URGENTLY?

If you can could you please contact the Africa Caribbean Leukaemia Trust via their website

Thanks people . Let's hope his search is successful :-)

Best of Luck Delroy. We are all with you my friend :-)

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/lifesaving-donor-needed-tv-debt-collector-delroy

Can anybody help with this appeal?

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/thames-ditton-leukaemia-sufferer-needs-11432257

ACLT Bone Marrow and Organ Drive

Volunteers from the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust will be out on the streets of Leeds trying to recruit bone marrow, blood and organ donors. *Bone marrow and organ transplant matching is racially specific and charity raises awareness and recruits potential donors from all

ethnic backgrounds but particularly target the black, mixed race and Asian communities. The ACLT will be trying to register as many donors as possible in the hope that the Leeds and Yorkshire community will support

their efforts to save the lives of leukaemia and blood related cancer/disorder patients and those in need of a organ/s transplant.

A video that needs more views on YouTube!......

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Great Video. I just wish that these sort of presentations got to a wider audience. It's amazing how a rock band can get 100'000 hits in a day on YouTube for singing a song...but a video such as this only gets 37'000 hits in 4 years for trying to save lives...go figure! :-(.

My website: http://www.scirocco2morocco.blogspot.com/

My name is AndY,I am 45 and I have had Leukaemia for 5 years now.....some don't get that long so I try to do what I can to help find a cure.....One day we will :-)

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50 Cent Hosts Donor Drive For Leukaemia Sufferer.4000 sign up!

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"50 Cent took time out of his busy work schedule this weekend to host a donor drive in New York for little leukaemia sufferer and Broadway star Shannon Tavarez.

Tavarez, who played the young Nala in hit musical The Lion King, was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia in April and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant to survive.

The In Da Club hitmaker, real name Curtis Jackson, threw his support behind the 11 year old's search for a match earlier this month when he and his G-Unit bandmate Tony Yayo both registered as potential donors.

50 Cent decided to step up efforts to raise awareness about the cause by teaming up with DKMS, the largest bone marrow donor centre in the world, to hold a donor drive for the youngster at his Curtis Jackson Community Garden in Jamaica, Queens as part of his work with his charity, the G-Unity Foundation."

Haven't I always said that having a well known face being involved in your charity appeal has a huge effect upon its success?

Here is proof,if proof is needed, that this assumption of mine is not unfounded.

When singer 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) got into being a bone marrow donor in the USA, 4000 people followed his lead...in just 48 hours!.

4000!......this is a figure that you just NEVER see when it comes to "unsupported" donor recruitment drives!

God, how I wish that every eligible group,band,singer and TV celebrity in the UK would just stand in front of a camera and say "I have just joined the Anthony Nolan Trust and registered as a bone marrow donor...why don't you?". Knowing the high esteem that the young hold these people in, I would hazard a guess that we would witness a huge surge in people coming forward to sign up.

But this is just a mad dream, an unattainable folly that will never happen because unlike disasters in Africa that prompted "Live Aid" and the likes, people who die of Leukaemia do so without much fanfare or fuss, no one writes songs to raise awareness of this silent killer, yet all it would take on the part of these "Icons" to the young would be a few minutes of their time.

One short spoken sentence could spare someone, somewhere, a death sentence.

If only...............

To read the full article click HERE.

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I just found this story on the net.....connections....it's what life is all about.

This was recently posted on YouTube and I listened to it with the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end !.
It was amazing to hear other people have come to the same conclusion that I have when it comes to understanding what life is all about...connections, and the chance to do something amazing during your time on this earth.

Anyway, watch this and see what you think.....




I will be sorting out a copy of Kevin's Book shortly :-), looks like an excellent read.

Over 130 sign up to help leukaemia sufferer Imogin Appiah....but!

As I reported a few weeks ago, a young girl called Imogin Appiah was desperately looking for a potential bone marrow donor to help her fight her leukaemia.Sadly, after a lot of effort was put in by the ACLT, the turn out was not as good as had been hoped :-(.

This was taken from the ACLT website:

25 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME COULD GIVE IMOGIN A LIFE TIME.

Please read on...

My daughter Imogin Appiah is a wonderful intelligent 6 year old. She can be a handful at times but she is my world. One can only imagine my shock when I received the terrifying news that my baby was not well during my lunch break at work.
I had been working as a counter manager for a cosmetic company. That day Imogin was with her grandmother September 18th 2006, a double shock for two people in the space of only a few minutes.
Entering Mayday hospital, I began to tremble uncontrollably but I soldiered on only to have my worst fears confirmed. My beautiful daughter had ALL Acute, Lymphoblastic, Leukaemia). I asked if it was bad news. Yes it is Sheila; however it is treatable, yes most certainly. Those words became my strength and my hope.
From this day Imogin started a two and a half year course of chemotherapy and I was her full time carer. In October 2008 Imogin finished her treatment we celebrated with a trip to Disneyland Paris with the magical taxi tours. Amazingly, 250 children, the London Ambulance Service, the Fire Brigade, the British Police, and the French Police all helped to make it an unforgettable weekend.
The love that I have for my daughter is incredibly deep, she means the world to me I honour her and look upon her with the greatest of respect. She is and always will be a fighter.My day to day routine is based on her survival, she is strong, we are strong and we have reached out for support and received support from fantastic people.
I am writing this account from St. Georges hospital in Tooting, South London.
We came here on Tuesday 17th February because Imogin has unfortunately relapsed and will need a bone marrow transplant in the near future.
But we will continue with our hope, strength and continued determination to find her a match.

Words Written by Shelia Appiah, Imogin’s Mum.

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But the following message from Beverley De-Gale really sums up what actually happened on 30th April at the ACLT drive at Imogin's school, Elmwood Infant in Croydon

"DISAPPOINTMENT!

That is the only word I can use to express my feelings about the public turnout for 6 year old Imogin Appiah at yesterdays bone marrow appeal in her name.
My name is Beverley De-Gale; Co-founder of the ACLT Charity. Yesterday's drive was well publicised via the Newspaper Media (local and national), Radio, ITV London Tonight news, Facebook, ACLT Website etc. etc.
Please can anyone explain to me why only 42 people (who were mostly White and Asian) actually took 30 minutes out of their schedules to watch a short presentation, to fill in an application form and to then give a small sample of blood to place themselves on the bone marrow register?
Imogin's school is mostly made up of Black and Asian pupils but the community let her down! We (ACLT) just don't get it! SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!!"

So come on folks.If you are Afro Caribbean,West Indian or a member of any other ethnic groups,please,please spare half an hour of your time to try and save Imogin.

You can come to the Donor Session's on the 23rd (Newark) or 25th (Kings Mill), and join the Anthony Nolan Register if you wish...the end product is still the same.....you may just have the chance to save someones life.

"You may be just one person in this world...but you may mean the world to just one person"

We wish all the best to Imogin and her family and fingers crossed that the fantastic work being carried out by the ACLT will result in a donor being found for this brave kid :-)

June 23rd 2009.Put it in your diary !

Why? Well this is the date that has now been confirmed as the day that the Anthony Nolan Trust will be attending Newark hospital in Nottinghamshire (UK), to hold a bone marrow donor recruitment session.

The session will run from 3pm until 7pm (longer if response is good!), and details of the event are currently being supplied to the radio,TV and press offices around the local area to make sure that turn out will be as high as possible.So if you are aged between 18 and 40 years old, are in good health and fancy a day out in Newark (it is a REALLY lovely town on the banks of the river Trent), put it in your diary, get yourself over there on the day and do a really honourable and fantastically rewarding thing, get yourself onto the bone marrow donor register.It won't cost you a Penny, you will be furnished with tea,coffee and biccies, and their is the possibility that at some time in the future, you may just be able to give someone the gift of life :-)

Pals rally to boost Alex after leukaemia shock

Usually fit and healthy, Alex McGuinness, who is just 17, was expecting to be told he had a flu bug when he went to the doctors with a stomach ache.

To read this story follow this link to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph site here:

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Pals-rally-to-boost-Alex.5050924.jp

julie cotton foundation concert @ Rock City 12th April 2009

The Julie Cotton Foundation are currently organizing a charity concert at the ROCK CITY venue in Nottingham that will be held on the 12th April 2009 (Easter Sunday).All proceeds will be going to establish a house for the use of by families of children with cancer being treated at the QMC Hospital in Nottingham.

Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.


This is a FANTASTIC gig, you really MUST make an effort to attend !.

Details are here:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=98808671

Another heartbreaking story about a young teacher who had Leukaemia, but was unaware of it's presence.

Update: Tributes flood in for Miss Hinton

Tributes have flooded in for a popular teacher who died of leukaemia aged just 31.
Andrea Hinton, a PE teacher at Oakwood School, Horley, was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia on Thursday, February 12, but fell into a coma and died later that day.

Yet again this illustrates the fact that ANYONE can develop leukaemia. It does not discriminate by age, colour,creed or fitness. Leukaemia can strike at anytime, at any age, and can and does sadly, destroy lives.

To read this story, please follow this link:

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/horley/Tributes-popular-Oakwood-teacher-died-Leukaemia/article-702107-detail/article.html

Scientists hail new leukaemia drug breakthrough

A NEW wonder drug has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of leukaemia.
Scientists said Mabthera can almost double the chances of remission - where abnormal cells can no longer be found in the blood or bone marrow.
It has also been shown to stop the disease in relapsed patients and seems to work best when added to standard chemotherapy.
The drug was most effective in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, known as CLL .
More than 2000 cases a year are diagnosed in the UK.
Researcher Professor Andrew Pettitt of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital said: "The goals of treatment are to shrink the disease to the point where we cannot detect it, and maximise the length of time before the cancer returns.
"This new treatment will give many patients the opportunity of living longer."

(Source: Daily Record December 8th 2008)

Everybody loves Mia.A diary of childhood leukaemia.

"My name is Mia Sophie Stillwell and my birthday is 16th September 2005.I live in Ryde on the Isle of Wight with Mum (Michelle), Dad (Scott) and my brother Harvey who’s 7.
Until September 2008 I was a healthy nearly 3 year old I went to nursery, swimming lessons, ballet lessons and rhythm time music classes.
I helped my Mum run a playgroup on Fridays and hung out with my Dad on the days that Mum had to work. During the summer holidays this year I spent every sunny day (there weren’t loads!) on the beach in Ryde, with Harvey and my friends.
On 9th September 2008 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Everything changes overnight!!!!!! "

A very informative and moving account of a little girls battle with ALL.

This is the link to her website:

http://www.everybodylovesmia.co.uk/

Our Heroes 2009: Meet Anna, six, who's still smiling despite having leukaemia

WEARING her favourite bandanna, little Anna Campbell is all smiles for the camera. But that cheeky grin hides a story of bravery and courage ... the six-year-old is battling leukaemia.

To see the full story visit the daily record web page:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2009/02/25/our-heroes-2009-meet-anna-six-who-s-still-smiling-despite-having-leukaemia-86908-21150988/

Jarrow teen's Leukaemia death still a mystery

Another heartbreaking story of a child lost to an apparently unknown type of Leukaemia.....

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/02/04/jarrow-teen-s-leukaemia-death-still-a-mystery-72703-22852490/

Joel was laid to rest yesterday

On Tuesday I attended the funeral of Joel Picker-Spence at the parish church of Mary Magdalen in Newark. After the service of thanksgiving some, me included, went on to the Sherwood crematorium for his final committal.

Now at this point I was going to describe the service,but several newspapers have already done this so I won't.Instead I will simply say that what I saw and heard that day moved me to tears. The story that was told that day in church of a child who fought his disease like a tiger, smiled like the sun,played with his friends,had fun and touched the hearts of many. I had the privilege of knowing Joel and his wonderful family for only a few months, but the experience has left a lasting impression upon me, and I am sure that his story has certainly touched the hearts of so many others.

I have heard some people ask why this had to happen to Joel.Why was such a happy and loving youngster made to suffer this terrible disease, and why was it not the happy ending that we all hoped and prayed it would be. I can't say that I know the answer to such a question,but I would like to think that Joel's death will somehow help others, perhaps make people take more notice of the pain and suffering that is all around them, and maybe spur them on to take action and try to make a difference.

For Joel the journey is over all to soon, but in the the short time he had in this world he proved himself to be so much more than just another poor kid with blood cancer.He was a example to us all, a bright star that lit a beacon of hope and it is down to us that are still here to carry that beacon and try to make a difference in the constant fight against the enemy we call Leukaemia.



They say that the smallest stars are the ones that shine most brightly.Well now there is a new star in the sky, and boy is it putting the others in the shade :-).Rest in peace Joel.

Nathan Hancock also sadly passed away this weekend.

I had only just been talking to Ann and Dan (Joel's mum and dad) when later today my dad told me that there had been another loss of a brave leukaemia sufferer over the weekend.

Nathan Hancock had been a promising footballer, but sadly his career was cut short by a broken leg. He then changed career and was enjoying his work with Linkage Community Trust at Toynton where he worked teaching sports to adults with learning difficulties when he was diagnosed with Leukaemia in February this year.

The main difficulty in treating Nathan was the fact that because he was of mixed race he required a specific and more difficult to obtain bone marrow transplant donor to be found, and sadly there is a shortage of bone marrow donors registered from ethnic communities.

His family tried desperately to find a suitable donor, but even though there was a fantastic turn out to sessions held in the local area, it was too late to save his life.

Nathan was only 22 years old, but before he passed away,yet he asked that the search for, and recruitment of, bone marrow donors should go on, so that others may be given a chance to beat this cruel and aggressive disease. It is up to us to ensure that that wish is pursued with as much vigor and urgency as we can muster, and to ensure that the push for more donors is sought, for the memory of Nathan,Joel and Adrian Sudbury and all the other brave fighters who are nothing less than hero's and who's examples of courage and bravery we can all seek inspiration from.

Joel Picker-Spence passed away last night.

Today I got a message that I had been dreading the arrival of for some weeks now, the news that little Joel Picker-Spence aged 6, had passed away in hospital after his brave fight with leukaemia.
I was going to title this post as "Joel loses his fight with leukaemia", but it seemed unfair to suggest that he had somehow failed to achieve his goal to live, and besides it would not give him the credit that he deserves in relation to the vast amount of encouragement and motivation that he has given not only myself, but also the hundreds and thousands of people that have followed the story of one small boys courageous battle with such a great enemy.
Joel Picker-Spence did not "loose" his fight, he eventually bowed to the unrelenting disease that was his leukaemia, but to all those who bore witness to his smiles,laughter and love that he had for his friends and family, he was a real hero,as was his mum Anne, who was always by his side during his numerous hospital visits.
I have yet to hear of any hero that has ever truly lost any fight.
God bless you Joel.Our thoughts are also with Ann,Dan,Sean and Eva his smashing and so obviously loving family.

One day...............

You know, if you pick up any newspaper, watch any TV news or listen to local or national radio, it seems like not a week goes by when there is not at least one person pleading for bone marrow donors to come forward.
Maybe it's because i am "in the club" as it were due to my own Leukaemia diagnosis, but I can't help but feel compelled to try and do something constructive to assist in these appeals. It is to that end that i spoke to staff at the Anthony Nolan Trust earlier this week, offering to try and recruit potential donors by way of using Scarlet (the car) and her trailer to spread the word to people and try and educate, inform and dispel misconceptions about what being a marrow donor involves.
One day, hopefully not so far away, there will be no need to make appeals, and bone marrow donation will be as commonplace as a blood transfusion. That day needs to be sooner rather than later, to avoid the human lottery that we currently have.

The Donors Mantra

A part of me I give to you
so you can start your life anew

a chance to live your life again
to free yourself from fear and pain

to lift your spirit and faith renew
this gift of life from me to you

Andy Ward.2008

"Every passing minute, is another chance to turn it all around" Vanilla Sky (Film 2001)

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Bone marrow (Stem Cell) donation....the facts

This is an entry that I found on Adrian Sudburys blog page "Baldy's Blog". I took the liberty of "pinching it" for this blog as it may help to dispel some of the myths and worries that surround the process of giving bone marrow, and hopefully will keep the momentum going for the vision that Adrian had of recruiting more people to become donors.

"This is a video showing how around 75% of all bone marrow donation is carried out these days.
If you want to get on one of the donor registers all you have to do is ask about it next time you give blood.
The National Blood Service provides a bone marrow register.
Alternatively, you could get in touch with the Anthony Nolan Trust.
They can send out a special blood testing kit which you can take with you to your GP.
You then post your sample back to the trust.
Specialists can tell from your blood whether you are a potential tissue match for someone or not. Your details are then entered onto one of the databases.
The two organisations work together so you only need to be on one.
If you were a match for someone who needed a transplant, and you still wanted to help, you would be given a number of injections of a naturally occurring hormone called Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), four days prior to the donation.
This stimulates your bone marrow to increase blood cell production. For example, when you are ill, GCSF stimulates the marrow to make more white blood cells to fight off infection.
The injections are safe and the only side effect I experienced when I was given some on the ward was a slight ache in my bones.
A donor is then brought into hospital and hooked up to a machine called a cell separator.
As you can see from the above video a needle is put in one arm and the blood goes into the machine. The stem cells are separated by centrifugation and flow into a bag. The other parts of the blood are then returned back to the donor through a different needle.
The whole process takes around four hours.
Current research shows that these types of stem cells are the best for curing leukaemia.
However, for some conditions such as aplastic anaemia, stem cells direct from the bone marrow are more desirable.
To get these cells a bone marrow harvest is performed. This can require a two-night stay in hospital.
When I have a bone marrow sample I have to lie on my side in the foetal position. I am given a local anaesthetic and a needle is inserted into the bony bits at the back of my pelvis.
This video is not the same as a harvest but it gives you the gist.

A donor is given a general anaesthetic and the same procedure is carried out but at multiple sites. There is no bone-breaking or spine jeopardising - that is not to say it wouldn't be a bit sore in the morning!
None of these procedures are anything to be taken lightly and do represent a big commitment.
The databases are expensive to maintain so they only want people on there who are determined to help.
Donors have the final say about which method they prefer.
Ideally, it is best to be OK with both. That way if someone is unable to extract enough bone marrow cells, another option for the recipient is possible.
On a personal note I used to give blood but I never joined a bone marrow register because I thought the procedure could leave you paralysed.
That, as I hope you can see, could not be further from the truth.
I'd just like to add that we live in a world that for all its good is riddled with problems and selfishness.
Joining a register is one of the true acts of altruism and human kindness.
Who knows, you may end up saving someone else on the other side of the planet."

(Adrian Sudbury May 15th,2008)

The video in the left hand column is pretty short and sweet, but it explains the process that is, as Adrian pointed out, used now days in 75% of cases to harvest bone marrow for donation to Leukaemia patients.Go on, do something amazing and give the gift of life :-)