Earlier this year, my wife and I tragically lost our son, Henry, to a rare condition called Aplastic Anemia. 

Until his diagnosis in August last year, I knew nothing about the condition itself, nor how vital a bone marrow transplant was in terms of treatment. What I also didn't know at the time is how impactful the lack of a viable donor was in terms of Henry's prognosis, and ultimately how it would lead to the passing of a previously healthy, happy and handsome 6 year old boy. 

In the intervening months, we have spoken to many people about Henry and his condition and almost all have been shocked to hear that they could potentially have done something to help Henry and many others like him, but like me just didn't know how.

So, in order that something positive might come out of something so dreadful, and in an effort to prevent other people and their loved ones from having to go through the same ordeal as Henry and his family, we've decided to get the word out about the bone marrow register and stem cell donation in general. DKMS is a charity who does such vital work in supporting the registration of people onto the Bone Marrow Register, and ultimately in assisting them in the donation of stem cells to the 80,000 people worldwide each year who need them. We are looking to raise both money and awareness for the charity with the ultimate goal of getting more people on the bone marrow register.

Jon, Laura and Luke are friends of mine, and when they heard about what had happened to Henry were desperate to help, and have been kind enough to agree to undertake this IRONMAN challenge in Henry's name. As superhuman as the efforts required to complete the event are, the same cannot be said of registering to become a potential stem cell donor!
Registering is the work of minutes, with just a simple form and DNA sample taken by cheek swab the only things standing between you and the potential to become a real life hero by saving someones life.
Donating to DKMS via this campaign is of huge value, but getting you and everyone else you know on the Bone Marrow Register is the real aim here. 

Find out more about the process, your eligibility and what it takes to become a real life superhero by visiting https://www.dkms.org.uk/en/register-now

Thanks for reading, please give generously, and even more importantly, visit the link above to find out how you can Be a Life Saver.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
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.