Lifesaving Durham University students were honoured by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan at a recent digital awards celebration.
Durham Marrow won the Register Champion of the Year award at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards 2021 for signing up over 150 potential lifesaving stem cell donors to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. This is the highest number of people signed up by a university led group for 2020-21.
The awards, now in their eighth year, recognise the outstanding achievements of the volunteers, fundraisers, clinical supporters and donors who help the pioneering blood cancer charity save lives. Marrow is part of Anthony Nolan’s student volunteer network and its student volunteers around the UK raise awareness of the need for more young people to join its stem cell register.
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Durham Marrow held a successful week of face-to-face recruitment events signing up lots of potential lifesavers to the stem cell register. They also raised awareness on a podcast, produced a radio advert, wrote an article for their university paper and even created a Facebook video which received over 7,500 views.
Zack Brodtman, current donor recruitment coordinator for Durham Marrow said: “We're all really pleased to be recognised for all the hard work we've put in during Covid. We were nominated alongside some exceptional people so hopefully the awards help inspire more people to get involved with Anthony Nolan.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “It is remarkable to see how many people support our work to find a match for those in need of a stem cell transplant. Without them, none of our life-saving work would be possible."
Anthony Nolan is the charity that finds matching stem cell donors for people with blood cancer and blood disorders and gives them a second chance at life.
It also carries out ground-breaking research to save more lives and provide information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant, through its clinical nurse specialists and psychologists, who help guide patients through their recovery.
