West Lothian firefighters dropped in to Inveralmond High School this week as part of their efforts to find the next generation of life savers.
Station Commander Jim Robertson and green watch Livingston attended the school for an Anthony Nolan donation appeal.
The charity aims to save and improve the lives of everyone affected by blood cancer and blood disorders thanks to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register.
Theresa Penrice, crew commander, explained: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been working in partnership with Anthony Nolan supporting their lifesaving mission for over 13 years.
“During that time we have educated and recruited thousands of potential donors. Now, we are looking for our next lifesaver.
“For someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder, an amazing stranger donating their stem cells could be their last chance of survival.
“If you consider signing up to the stem cell register at your school event, you might just save a life.”
A spokesperson for the Anthony Nola charity added: “Every 20 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with blood cancer and for some their only chance of survival is a stem cell transplant.
As there is only a 30 per cent chance of finding a match from a family member the majority of people facing transplant are reliant on a complete stranger having joined a register such as Anthony Nolan’s.
“Younger donors provide the best possible long term outcomes for patients Anthony Nolan recruit 16 to 30 year olds as donors and have a really successful education programme to help educate young people about the need for donors, what’s involved in donation and to dispel some of the myths that exist.
“In Scotland, Anthony Nolan have an award winning partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) who visit schools to educate young people about how they can become lifesavers.”
You must be aged 16 to 30 and meet the medical criteria to join the register.
This is the first step towards potentially saving someone’s life. If you come up as a possible match, the charity will contact you to explain what happens next.
For more information visit anthonynolan.org/ help-save-a-life.
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