The campaign to find a suitable match for May Brown, from Dorset, has become more urgent following a relapse of the leukaemia that she had. As Brown's leukaemia has just returned more aggressively than before, her doctors have told her that she will need the blood stem cell donation as soon as she goes into remission, which they hope will happen again soon.
Blood cancer charities African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) and DKMS have come together to appeal for people to register as potential blood stem cell donors to help find a matching donor for Brown and anyone in need of a lifesaving donation.
Brown, who was a London 2012 Olympics volunteer, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in June last year. For many with a blood cancer or blood disorder, a blood stem cell donation from another person is their only chance of survival.
As a Nigerian, those with a similar heritage are urged in particular to join the registry, as this is likely to provide the most suitable match for her. Beverley De-Gale, ACLT co-founder, added:
"Due to May’s unfortunate relapse, her search for a matched stem cell donor is even more urgent than before. If you are of West African descent, I urge you to step forward while encouraging your family and friends to do the same. Join the stem cell register today by providing a cheek swab to help potentially save May’s life."The importance of people who share Brown’s West African heritage registering is underscored by the fact that, while close to a quarter of potential donors in the UK are from ethnic minority backgrounds, patients from these backgrounds continue to have difficulty in finding suitable donors due to a disproportionate lack of available donors.
A black, ethnic minority individual living with blood cancer has less than a 20 per cent chance of finding the best possible match from an unrelated donor. White British individuals have a 90 per cent chance at best.
Brown, who is mother to two-year-old daughter Selina-May, desperately wants to watch her child grow up. Urging people to register, she said:
"Please register today as a potential blood stem cell donor. Do it, if not for my sake, but for the sake of my little girl. She is only two years old and needs her mummy. Your selfless act of registering could ultimately save my life and those of other people suffering from blood cancer or blood disorders."
Supporting his wife’s appeal, Brown's husband Michael who was a British former soldier said:
"Please register to help my beautiful wife May. It is so easy to register as a potential blood stem cell donor. It takes a few minutes to do, and it could lead to you giving decades to May, which our small family are praying so desperately for."
