Northumbria to host stem cell donor event in bid to save life of fashion graduate

A Northumbria University graduate desperately seeking a stem cell transplant is turning to current students and fellow alumni in the hope of finding a match.

Abbie Inwood suffers from aplastic anaemia – a serious condition where the bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells.

The 23-year-old, who graduated from Northumbria’s Fashion Design and Marketing course last summer, has so far been unable to find a donor match and is asking people aged between 16 and 30 to consider joining the stem cell register.

Northumbria University is now working with local volunteers from the charity Anthony Nolan to organise swabbing days on campus.

During these events, students, alumni, and staff can carry out a quick cheek swab in order to be added to the register, after which scientists and doctors will be able to identify whether they could potentially save someone’s life.

The events are being organised by members of Newcastle Marrow – part of a network of student-led volunteer groups, based at Universities across the UK, which promote the stem cell register to students.

Despite winning awards during her final year at Northumbria, Abbie has now had to put her dreams of a career in fashion on hold while she seeks a donor.

She said: “Currently there is no match for me to have a transplant and it is crucial I raise awareness to encourage people to sign up to the Anthony Nolan donor register to help me and other like me. Without a transplant the future could be looking uncertain.”

Sarah Rogers, head of patient involvement at Anthony Nolan, added: "Every year, amazing people like Abbie face the unimaginable reality of being told a stem cell donor match hasn't been found for them. We urgently need more young people, especially those from minority ethnic backgrounds, to consider joining the donor register.”

Swabbing will be taking place on Tuesday 11 March from 9am to 4pm outside the Ask4Help desk in the Northumbria University Library and Habita, and from 10am to 4pm in Sport Central.

Potential donors must be aged between 16 and 30.

Anyone unable to attend the events can join the register by visiting the Anthony Nolan website and requesting a swab pack which will be set to their home.

If anyone joining the stem cell register is found to be a match, 90% of the time they will be asked to give through the most common method of donation - peripheral blood stem cell donation.

Through this process, in the four days leading up to donation the donor will receive injections to increase the number of stem cells their body produces.

They will then travel to an Anthony Nolan collection centre where a doctor will collect those crucial cells through a very simple, pain free method, using a machine that collects their blood, separates and retains the elements needed for the patient, before passing the blood back through to the donor.

Donating only takes 4-5 hours for most people and there is no need for a general anaesthetic or to stay in hospital overnight.

Find out more about the Anthony Nolan charity and Abbie’s appeal for a stem cell donor.

Read about Abbie’s appeal on BBC News.