Happy 4th birthday Margot

Please support our International Registration Day on Wednesday 7 October 2020

Margot was diagnosed with blood cancer on 7 October 2013, so we have made this date the “TEAM MARGOT STEM CELL AND BONE MARROW REGISTRATION DAY” – an international day designed to inform, inspire and motivate more people to join the worldwide registers as potential stem cell and bone marrow donors, in their countries.

Margot’s mixed ethnicity was the key reason why we were unable to find her “perfect match” – this is an area where your race and ethnicity is vital – which is why, in particular, we seek to encourage people of mixed heritage and those from ethnic minorities to join a register.

We value highly & give great currency to word of mouth – please talk about this & tell someone, follow us online, retweet and share what we post and create and upload your own posts & photos on social media in support.

We don’t mind how you choose to register, only that you do PLEASE REGISTER !

Give it a go & see how it makes you feel.

Thank you.

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”

Latest Tweets

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RT @SkyNews: A surgeon has launched a global search for a blood stem cell donor to save the life of his seriously ill 12-year-ol… https://t.co/bN35FnA20A

6 days ago
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Just learned that you’re a big @starwars fan @RishiSunak so this one is especially for you: https://t.co/5eGfwIRUPr… https://t.co/W5foZPVrEd

1 week ago
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Three month old Azaylia has Caribbean, Indian and northern European ethnicity & URGENTLY needs a stem cell transpla… https://t.co/RAA5baiuwp

2 weeks ago
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RT @DKMS_uk: Look how far this little trooper has come 💪🏻 Baby Daniel is now 100+ days post-transplant! 🎉🎉🎉 We hope you'll joi… https://t.co/k7ZFPYeOCb

2 weeks ago
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RT @enherts: The 11-year-old daughter of one of our surgeons, Geraint Lloyd, is in desperate need of a blood stem cell transplan… https://t.co/5KL6dr9PDC

3 weeks ago
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RT @almurray: The best thing to do is direct people to https://t.co/iXtay9zLNy to see if they are eligible to donate. Thank you a… https://t.co/EHIhWISP8I

3 weeks ago
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RT @SkyNewsIsabel: Well worth a read... https://t.co/HQogVbouwv

3 weeks ago
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RT @yasermartini: Freedom is not free. #RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget https://t.co/JCXn7Xcit6

3 weeks ago
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RT @GiveBloodNHS: Our donor centres are open, and coming to give blood is considered essential travel for the NHS. If you're fit and… https://t.co/HSOYd7Vm5S

3 weeks ago
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RT @GiveBloodNHS: Thank you to our amazing donors for your continued support during the pandemic. Your blood donations save lives e… https://t.co/x9oZbtUjU4

3 weeks ago
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RT @Cancer52org: A great fundraising teach-in yesterday. Thanks to all our speakers who shared their expertise and learnings on how… https://t.co/NVyy6xNZ8A

3 weeks ago
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RT @yasermartini: Here’s something you can do to help save & improve lives... 👇 https://t.co/JebGU5agob

4 weeks ago
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RT @gurchrandhawa: Funding available! If you’re a community/faith organisation with links to Black, Asian, mixed heritage or minority… https://t.co/oYQDFOPkKn

4 weeks ago
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RT @swab4margot: Thank you so much 🙏 https://t.co/nKJPlcGFBw

1 month ago
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And we are extremely proud of you too. 😘 Thank you @AlexCasley 🙏 and thank you to everyone else who has donated s… https://t.co/jLQVX0ZzAw

1 month ago
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Thank you so much 🙏 https://t.co/nKJPlcGFBw

1 month ago
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RT @GiveBloodNHS: Sickle cell can affect anyone, but it mainly affects people from an African or Caribbean background. We need more… https://t.co/4KOouH6Kt9

1 month ago
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RT @GiveBloodNHS: People from which background are affected by sickle cell? 🤔

1 month ago
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RT @NHSOrganDonor: Organ donation law in England has changed, but it's still your choice if you want to be an organ donor or not when… https://t.co/oB4R1JK3oU

1 month ago
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RT @yasermartini: @CharlotteHawkns Top lady. Thank you for all your support of @swab4margot, Charlotte. #togethersavinglives https://t.co/VZnyDvegL3

1 month ago
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Three years after featuring in our ‘The Power of One’ photographic exhibition at City Hall @Che_Lingo continues to… https://t.co/k8o13GW0Un

1 month ago
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Good to finally surpass this UK milestone✅however many more registrations are still URGENTLY needed, esp. from the… https://t.co/EtJbfmk1qN

1 month ago
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RT @GKedney: @givebloodscot Thanks to the all of the great SNBTS team in Edinburgh today, Great to get my badge and certificate… https://t.co/BVEDs0LuzT

1 month ago
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RT @AnthonyNolan: ‘I’m desperate. I can’t fathom the alternative if we don’t find a match and Aurora suffers the consequences.’ Aur… https://t.co/PffBsf7E9s

2 months ago
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RT @gemmapeters: Yet again people are finding out about changes in shielding guidance from a front page rather than a proper announc… https://t.co/xU6SsRNl61

2 months ago