BBC Radio 5 Live interview

Please support our annual ‘Team Margot Donor Registration Day’ on 7 October

On 7 October 2013, Margot was diagnosed with blood cancer; a year later, we announced that we would hold a Team Margot registration day on 7 October, every year. At the time, we were struck by how little awareness there was around stem cell transplants and there was an absence of another day like it. The first “Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day” was in 2015 and was designed to promote awareness of the need for more potential stem cell donors to join the UK and worldwide registers.

The following year, it became the “Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registration Day” and subsequently, in recognition of Margot’s need for blood & platelets during treatment and also following the conversation Vicki and I had about organ donation, we renamed and repositioned the day as the “Team Margot Donor Registration Day”.

Thank you for all your support.

Yaser, Margot’s father

Team Margot
Together, saving lives

Endorsements

THANK YOU for endorsing our registration day:

“As co-founders of the ACLT and parents of former leukaemia patient, Daniel De-Gale. We would like to congratulate Yaser, Nadia and the team at Team Margot Foundation on the launch of its inaugural International Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness day. The ACLT fully supports this lifesaving worldwide initiative where someone is able to simply register in order to be tested and on standby in the hope that one of us is able to be chosen as a “special one” to help someone in urgent need of the gift of life.”

Beverley De-Gale, OBE & Orin Lewis OBE, Founders of ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust)

Ann O’Leary, Head of Register Development at the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, said: “Saving the lives of people with blood cancer is a truly global effort, as countries all over the world work together to find stem cell matches for people in need of a transplant.

“That’s why we’re so delighted that Team Margot are about to launch their first International Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day. Margot’s legacy inspired an incredible number of people to become lifesaving stem cell donors all over the world, and we are looking forward to recruiting the next generation of lifesavers on 7th October at donor recruitment events in Margot’s name.

“Team Margot’s International Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day will bust myths, raise awareness and bring hope to those desperately waiting to find a donor.”

Seun Adebiyi, Project Manager, Global Partnerships and Planning, American Cancer Society said: “When I was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma at the age of 26, I was shocked to learn that my African ancestry meant that I had less than a 17% chance of finding a compatible bone marrow donor. Thousands of patients with minority or mixed heritage search every day for a life saving donor. I was one of the lucky few who found a match, but many do not. Patients who can’t find donors are just as deserving of life as anyone else. We desperately need more donors of minority and mixed ancestry to overcome this inequity and to give patients like Margot a second chance at life.”

Theo Clarke, Lead Donor Relations Manager at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We really need young blood donors to sign up to the British Bone Marrow Registry (BBMR) and potentially become that one in a million match for someone in desperate need of a transplant. Joining the registry is really easy, all you have to do is tell a member of staff at the start of your next blood donation session that you want to join the registry and an extra sample of blood will be taken during your donation.

“Currently the chances of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Mixed Race patients in the UK finding a matching donor can be as low as 40%, whereas Caucasian patients have around a 90% chance of finding a donor. So NHS Blood and Transplant is looking to recruit young BAME and Mixed Race blood donors and Caucasian male blood donors between the ages of 18 and 30 on to the BBMR . The more people we have on the register, the more of a chance we have at finding a match.”

To find out where your nearest session is and to book an appointment to give blood and join the BBMR, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk.

A message from The Caribbean Bone Marrow Registry: “You turned your pain into a passion that became a purpose and a part of a great movement. On behalf of the team, members and affiliates of the Caribbean Bone Marrow Registry, we applaud your efforts and commitment in making a difference in the lives of those suffering from these terrible diseases. Thank You. We invite all to enroll, be a match and save a life.”

www.caribbeanmarrow.org

Lisa Nugent, Head of Donor Recruitment at DKMS said: ”The success that we enjoy today in registering potential donors can be attributed to our earliest patient campaigns, the first of which was Margot’s appeal. The family’s willingness to share their story to raise awareness, not just then but on a continued basis, has inspired many to sign up. Earlier this year we were able to celebrate the registration of our 500,000th potential donor, with the knowledge that we have given more than 900 patients, a second chance of life.”

Christa Justus from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research said: “Margot Martini’s legacy is beautifully secured through the vital work of Team Margot. Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research proudly supports their efforts to help other angels like Margot live long, healthy, cancer-free lives.” gabriellesangels.org

Betina Sørensen, M.D. Senior Consultant at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark said: “We are pleased to be working with Team Margot and fully support the Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day. Here in Denmark we will be marking the occasion in our blood bank by putting Team Margot stickers on soft drinks, chocolate and fruits, putting up posters on the walls, handing out Team Margot bracelets and showing the video with Margot in our waiting room.”

Amy Ronneberg, CFO, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match® Said: “Patients in need of a life-saving marrow transplant are most likely to match a donor of their same race and ethnicity. Team Margot is meeting that need by recruiting diverse donors and people of mixed heritage. We’re proud to partner with such an outstanding organization, dedicated to saving lives.”

Matti Korhonen, Senior Medical Officer at the Finnish Stem Cell Registry said:

“The Finnish Stem Cell Registry supports the International Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day. We hope that through this initiative many more will decide to give leukemia patients a chance for cure.”

Tarryn Corlett – Chief Executive Officer of The Sunflower Fund, South Africa said:

“It is vital that we create awareness and educate the public about Leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders as well as the desperate need for bone marrow stem cell donors. One of the biggest challenges that we face in South Africa, is the shortage of donors from Black, Coloured and Indian ethnic backgrounds. Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day will assist in the endeavours to educate the public and hopefully encourage donors, from all ethnic groups, to step forward all over the world.

If you are in South Africa and would like to become a lifesaving bone marrow stem cell donor, please contact The Sunflower fund on 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za”

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