Magical Match

In this episode we hear from Caroline Richardson, Head of Fundraising and Georgina Brookes, Community & Events Fundraising Manager from DKMS.

We talked about the crucial role fundraisers play in the work of DKMS; and the stories of hope behind fundraisers' motivation.

It was a real privilege, as always, to speak with my guests and I'm grateful for their time and expertise.

DKMS began after Peter Harf's wife, Mechtild Harf was told the only treatment for her leukaemia was a bone marrow transplant. At the time, she had no matching family members.

On 28 May 1991, Peter founded DKMS with his wife’s transplant physician, Gerhard Ehninger. In their first year, they expanded the registry to 68,000 donors. After Mechtild sadly passed away, Peter and daughter, Katharina continued to be motivated by Mechtild and by 1995, they built DKMS into the world’s largest stem cell donor register.

DKMS celebrate 10 years in the UK this year and continue to work hard to raise awareness and bring more people to the stem cell register.

You can find out more about DKMS and signing up to the stem cell register at www.dkms.org.uk

In this episode, Femi Ishola takes us through his experience as a stem cell donor. Femi speaks with warmth and passion about donating earlier this year in 2022 and candidly about his desire to 'raise our game' for getting the message out there to all communities about the need for stem cell donors and bringing more people to the stem cell register.

We also discussed some of the myths and misunderstandings around stem cell donation and Femi encourages everyone to ask questions and get in touch with the charities who can help, ie www.anthonynolan.org, www.aclt.org, www.dkms.org.uk or www.bethematch.org.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Magical Match Podcast is an Oh Beehive! Production, originally inspired by a conversation with Andy Mitchell and other like-minded individuals.

Hosted and produced by Ginny Walker with audio production by James Walker and music by Cobalt Ocean.

In this episode we hear from Charlotte Cunliffe, Head of Register Development with Anthony Nolan, Sabrina Jarrett, National Development Manager with the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust and Krishna Gokani, Volunteer with the National Marrow Programme through Anthony Nolan.

Anthony Nolan is the charity that makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and incredible strangers ready to donate their stem cells.

Shirley Nolan founded the charity in 1974 and her son, Anthony's legacy has given hope and a second chance of life to thousands of blood cancer and blood disorder patients.

In 1999 Daniel De-Gale became the first black individual in the UK to receive a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.

After Daniel passed away, his parents, Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis made a conscious decision to continue the work of ACLT, keeping Daniel’s legacy alive and saving many more lives in his name.

We talked about donor recruitment, the process and the ways people are recruited to the register and the important partnerships with ACLT and the Marrow Programme and how they work in educating and inspiring more people from all communities to sign up.

It was a real privilege, as always, to speak with people with so much knowledge around the topic of stem cell donation and I'm profoundly grateful for my guests' time and responses to the many questions put to them.

You can find out more about Anthony Nolan at www.anthonynolan.org

You can find out more about the Marrow Programme through Anthony Nolan via this link here: https://www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/volunteer-find-your-lifesaving-role/youth-volunteering/marrow

You can find out more about the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust here: www.aclt.org

In this episode we hear from Anthony Nolan Healthcare Professionals, Rachel Miller - Lead Nurse with Anthony Nolan, based in the London offices, Kelly Statham-Gill, Clinical Nurse Specialist based at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Dr Jenna Love - Clinical Psychologist based at St George's Hospital, London.

Anthony Nolan is the charity that makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and incredible strangers ready to donate their stem cells.

Shirley Nolan founded the charity in 1974 and her son, Anthony's legacy has given hope and a second chance of life to thousands of blood cancer and blood disorder patients.

We discussed what happens when people get blood cancer. We talked about the process of a stem cell transplant, the importance of psychologists in the process for patients, their families and also the staff. We also chatted about fertility and the importance of signing up as a stem cell donor.

It was a real privilege as always to speak with people with so much knowledge around the topic and I'm profoundly grateful for my guests' time and responses to the many questions put to them.

You can find out more about Anthony Nolan at www.anthonynolan.org

In this episode we hear from Henny Braund MBE and CEO of Anthony Nolan.

Anthony Nolan is the charity that makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and incredible strangers ready to donate their stem cells.

Shirley Nolan founded the charity in 1974 and her son, Anthony's legacy has given hope and a second chance of life to thousands of blood cancer and blood disorder patients.

We talked about statistics, diversity, challenges and hopes for improving the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.

You can find out more about the charity, getting involved and signing up to the stem cell register here at www.anthonynolan.org

You can follow Henny Braund MBE on Twitter at @HennyBraund

You can follow Anthony Nolan on Twitter at @AnthonyNolan

In this episode, Maggie Marshall takes us through her experience as a donor to not one, but two recipients in recent years. Maggie enthuses about the benefits of stem cell donation and talks about donating through peripheral stem cell collection and also bone marrow removal and the positive impact being a donor has had on her life, personally.

Magical Match Podcast is an Oh Beehive! Production, originally inspired by a conversation with Andy Mitchell and other like-minded individuals.

Hosted and produced by Ginny Walker with audio production by James Walker and music by Cobalt Ocean.

In this episode, we meet Project Manager, Jonpaul McGrane, a healthy young man, who was diagnosed with the t-cell variant of ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) in September 2019, shortly after he'd just got married. He shares his experience of diagnosis and treatment.

Useful links:

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/leukaemia/acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia-all

www.cureleukaemia.co.uk

www.anthonynolan.org

www.dkms.org.uk

Magical Match Podcast is an Oh Beehive! Production, originally inspired by a conversation with Andy Mitchell and other like-minded individuals.

Hosted and produced by Ginny Walker with audio production by James Walker and music by Cobalt Ocean.

In this episode, we meet teaching assistant and mother of two, Lynn Roberts, whose daughter, Milly received a diagnosis of Aplastic Anaemia. Lynn shares Milly's journey through diagnosis and treatment.

You can follow Milly's journey at https://www.instagram.com/milly.sjourney/

Useful Links:

https://www.theaat.org.uk/

https://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/support-and-information/information-about-blood-cancer/blood-cancer-information/aplastic-anaemia/

Magical Match Podcast is an Oh Beehive! Production, originally inspired by a conversation with Andy Mitchell and other like-minded individuals.

Hosted and produced by Ginny Walker with audio production by James Walker and music by Cobalt Ocean.

In this episode, devoted Evertonian, Andy explains the reason behind him signing up to the stem cell register, his experience of the donation process and his ongoing work to help raise awareness of stem cell donation in both the football and wider community.

You can follow Andy on Twitter at Blues Against Cancer - @bluesvcancer.

Magical Match Podcast is an Oh Beehive! Production, originally inspired by a conversation with Andy Mitchell and other like-minded individuals.

Hosted and produced by Ginny Walker with audio production by James Walker and music by Cobalt Ocean.