Celebs Wear It Red for DKMS on World Blood Cancer Day!
DKMS established World Blood Cancer Day in 2014, to celebrate our commitment to providing a matching donor for every blood cancer patient in need of a blood stem cell donation.
This year, World Blood Cancer Day saw an exciting programme of events, including the return of our popular #WearItRed theme, where our supporters wear red to raise awareness of the work of DKMS, and the urgent need for more people to register with us a potential lifesavers.
We were delighted to secure the support of some big names, all donning their DKMS t-shirts to help spread the word, including our celebrity ambassadors Al Murray and BAFTA-nominee Anton Ferdinand, soapstars Samantha Giles and Bill Ward, Love Island star Georgia Harrison, and a host of TV doctors, including Dr Sarah Jarvis, and national treasure Dr Hilary Jones!
DKMS was featured extensively throughout the day in the media, across international, national and regional newspapers, and numerous broadcast news outlets, including Sky News who interviewed our patient Peter McCleave on his ongoing search for his lifesaver, as well as young patient Ryan Brissett and our CEO Jonathan Pearce. BBC Radio London also dedicated two hours to World Blood Cancer Day.
Our social media channels were also red hot, with bigger numbers of people than ever spreading the word on how we can all do our bit to help those fighting blood cancer.
And to bring the day to a close, celebrity wine expert and TV personality Olly Smith led a live, interactive Wine & Cheese tasting, which raised more than £2,600 – enough for us to register 65 new lifesavers-in-waiting!
Thanks to everybody who got involved this year for helping us raise both awareness and funds, to allow DKMS to continue with our lifesaving work.
How you can help
It costs us £40 to register just one potential blood stem cell donor. While many of our supporters contribute towards the cost of registration, not all are able to do so. Any funds you can donate, no matter the size, can make a huge difference and help to give blood cancer patients a second chance of life.
If you are aged between 17 and 55 and in good general health take the first step to register as a blood stem cell donor by registering for your home swab kit at www.dkms.org.uk.