Appeal To Save Jasmine's Life

Jasmine Andrew was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) when she was just a few weeks old and needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

Hundreds of people turned out between 1 and 4pm on September 7th at Portsmouth Guildhall at a session organised by the Anthony Nolan Trust to sign the donor register and see if they are a match for Jasmine.

Hundreds sign up at Portsmouth Guildhall

Samantha Curtis, Jasmine’s aunt, said,

“The more people who come forward to join the register, the better.  Jasmine is mixed race and although anyone could be a match, her donor is likely to be mixed race too.  We really need people who are mixed race to join Anthony Nolan’s register.

But if you aren’t a match for Jasmine, you could save someone else’s life.”

Karen Archer, Anthony Nolan’s donor recruitment manager, said,

“70% of people won’t be able to find matching donor from within their families.  So those people are relying on strangers to save their life.  There are 1,400 people in the UK who need a stem cell transplant and by joining the register, you could end up saving the life of any one of them.”

To join the register, you must be aged between 18 and 30, weigh more than 8 stone (51 kg) and be in general good health. Even if you missed the session, you can still join the register.

For more information on Anthony Nolan, visit www.anthonynolan.org or call 0303 303 0303.