Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I am a proud ambassador for DKMS and each year they challenge me to push myself outside my comfort zone! Year 1 was the sky dive, year 2 was the 10k run, last year I abseiled off The Spinnaker and this year I am facing my fear and doing a bungee jump near the 02 in London
I would love to reach the £15k mark with this year's challenge. Can you help me get there?
I am sure most of you know that my lovely husband, Gav, was diagnosed with Follicular Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in Jan 2014.
He has since had treatment and is currently in remission - he is a LEGEND!!
Gav's type of lymphoma is incurable, but treatable. And this type of 'liquid cancer' responds well to treatment.
One day, he might need a stem cell transplant.
For some patients it is their only chance.
There are over 200 types of blood cancer. Every 20 minutes here in the UK, someone is diagnosed. Many of them will be successfully treated.
Sometimes, a person will need a stem cell donation from a stranger. A stranger who's a genetic match if none of the family are found to be matches. Amazing hey.
This is where you come in! DKMS and also Anthony Nolan, are both charities that are right at the forefront of research in to management and cure of all types of blood cancer.
By donating you will be helping - your support will save lives.
I'd also love you to sign up to the stem cell register - go to www.dkms.org.uk to sign up. It's a swab that arrives in the post that you wipe inside your cheek and post back. Simple as that. You will then be on the register and called if you are a match for someone.
Contrary to popular belief, in most cases, donating your stem cells is very very similar to giving blood. (if you are found to be a genetic match for a child who is desperately poorly with a blood cancer - you might donate a different way, but there is no blood or gore! And you will be SAVING HIS OR HER LIFE)
The bit that makes me go goosebumps is that in many cases, a couple of years down the line, you get to meet the recipient. IMAGINE THAT!!! DKMS do everything they can to keep both donor and recipient in contact via the charity.
Instagram has been hugely supportive of me and I know of at least 10 genetic matches that have happened as a direct result of people signing up to the register from my Instagram page. That's potentially 10 lives saved. BLOWS MY MIND.
If you have got this far - THANKYOU!
Each swab kit costs DKMS £40 to process, so every penny counts. And so do those beautiful stem cells of yours. You could be walking around not even knowing that someone, somewhere is your genetic match and you contain the magic to save their life, or, if the boot is on the other foot, they contain the magic to save YOURS. (because 'it'll never happen to me' right?)
You are already a hero for even getting to this page.
xxxxxx love Sally xxxxxx
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.