Anthony Nolan charity is bowled over by players

Aug 17 2010 by Chris Ward, The Journal

STARS of North East cricket have joined a life-saving campaign offering hope to cancer sufferers.

Players from Durham County Cricket Club are the latest bowlers and batsmen in the region to boost numbers on the national bone marrow register.

Earlier this year, the Cricket Against Leukaemia campaign was launched by Durham’s Shotley Bridge Cricket Club in conjunction with Derwentside Round Table. It aims to get all players at all levels, aged 18 to 40, signed up to the Anthony Nolan Trust’s bone marrow list, providing vital lifelines for people with the illness.

And the latest to add their support include the “Ashington Express”, England and Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison.

Harmison undertook a simple spit-kit test yesterday in order to join the register of people willing to take part in bone marrow transplants.

Shotley Bridge secretary Rob Grinter has managed to enlist members of Durham County’s first team squad, who made time to give samples before their LV County Championship Division One match against Yorkshire. Mr Grinter said: “The campaign has shown that whilst cricket clubs may be rivals on the field, they work well together in support of a good cause.

“The Anthony Nolan Trust does a lot of very important work for leukaemia sufferers and we hope this campaign will encourage people to join the register as potential donors. It is entirely optional, but we hope as many cricketers as possible will take part. To give their time during an important match for Durham was a great gesture, but we have only just scratched the surface. We want as many cricket clubs of all levels to get involved.”