On 18 July, Anthony Nolan was in Parliament to spread the word about why stem cell transplantation matters and how local communities can get involved. Thousands of you asked your MP to attend. The Campaigns Team explains what happened at the event, and the impact an email from campaigners and communities can have on an MP…
Over the last few weeks, thousands of you emailed your MP using our Communities vs Blood Cancer online tool. You told them how many amazing people in your constituency are willing to donate their stem cells to a stranger, and asked them to come and learn more about the issues that matter to stem cell transplant patients at an event in Parliament.
The event took place on 18 July and it was a big success!
Hosted by Mark Tami MP, who leads a cross-party group of MPs who care about stem cell transplantation, the event brought MPs together with other charities, doctors, and patients and their families to celebrate the stem cell transplant community’s achievements over the last year, and look ahead to the challenges we still face.
Patrick Grady MP shows his support for Communities vs Blood Cancer
It was a very busy day in Parliament, with a number of other events going on, but thanks to your emails we met with lots of MPs and told them all about the stem cell donor register. They were really interested to receive the numbers of stem cell donors in their local communities, and they’ve already started spreading the word to help us get even more amazing young people to sign-up to potentially save a life.
MPs also got to hear from stem cell transplant patient Chris, who talked passionately about the support that patients need after their treatment, and why it’s vital that decision-makers listen to the patient voice.
Chris, stem cell transplant patient, at Communities vs Blood Cancer
Your emails really DID make a difference – we had MPs that came through the door and told us that they had attended because they knew that it was important to their constituents. By getting them in the room, you helped us to improve their understanding of stem cell transplantation as a potentially lifesaving treatment, making it more likely that they’ll continue to support us in the future.
Thank you once again to everyone who emailed their MP – and keep an eye out for the next opportunity to get involved in our campaigning work!
P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to check out our Communities vs Blood Cancer online tool, you can take a look here.