Fantastic response to appeal for donors

Mar 3 2007 By Paul James, The Journal

Dozens of Journal readers have joined the bone marrow donors' register in memory of inspirational Josie Grove.

In the two days after the launch of our appeal for donors, 56 people have contacted the Anthony Nolan Trust to potentially save a life in Josie's name.

We launched the Join for Josie campaign on Thursday after the 16-year-old's death on Monday, urging new people to sign up and help save a child who is waiting for a bone marrow transplant.

Yesterday the Anthony Nolan Trust, which has set up a special email address for Journal readers, said the response to the appeal had been "fantastic".

But Peter Finnigan, area manager for the trust, said there could never be enough people on the register and called on more to join.

Our campaign, backed by Josie's family, is trying to highlight just how easy it is to sign up and save a life. You only need to give a teaspoon of blood to join the bone marrow register.

And if you become a match for one of the 7,000 people who need a transplant, the procedure is as simple as giving blood.

Mr Finnigan said: "It's a fantastic number of people to come forward within the space of two days.

"Many thanks to everybody who has got in touch with us so far. I can say here and now that over the next 20 or 30 years, statistically, you can guarantee some of these people will go on to save a life.

"Even in two days lives will be saved as a result of the people getting in touch with us...

"But the bigger the register the more lives will be saved - the equation is as simple as that."

Josie touched the hearts of Journal readers after giving up her treatment after two failed transplants and being told her leukaemia was terminal.

But her family believe the second operation enabled them to spend two more years with Josie, which mother Jacqui said were "irreplaceable".

It costs £70 for the Anthony Nolan Trust to sign up each person on the register, and the charity is organising a three-day fundraiser for thrill-seekers to zip slide from the Tyne Bridge to the Quayside on the Bank Holiday weekend of May 5, 6 and 7.

Up to 400 participants can fly off the bridge at 30mph on the 400ft wire down to HMS Calliope on the Gateshead Quays. If all the places are filled it would raise enough money to register 800 people as bone marrow donors.

Mr Finnigan said: "The more people we get signing up the better, but we need that money so badly.

"Without money there are no donors and without donors there's no hope for the people out there who need a bone marrow transplant."

Anyone who would like to take part should contact (01388) 529430 or email peter.finnigan@anthonynolan.org.uk

How you can help save a life in Josie' name

The Journal is urging readers to join the bone marrow register and become a potential lifesaver for a child like Josie Grove.

An email address has been set up for people to put their name on the Anthony Nolan Trust's bone marrow register in Josie's memory.

The charity will soon be holding sessions across the North-East for people to attend, but the trust can also arrange for people to register through their GP. The email address to contact is josie@anthonynolan.org.uk.

For those without email access, the donor hotline is (0901) 882-2234.

Donors' identities are kept anonymous, but please remember to mention The Journal's Josie Grove Appeal when asked how you found out about the number so we can record how many people are signing up in her name.

Our drive for donors is another strand of the Josie Grove appeal, which has so far raised more than £15,000 for leukaemia research.

Donors must be 18-40 and weigh more than 8st/51kg.