A new film launched today by Anthony Nolan is calling on young men aged 16–30 to join the stem cell register and #BeALifesaver.
The campaign, fronted by potential lifesaver and professional basketball player, Lamar Roberts, calls on young men to do something amazing for someone with blood cancer. By joining the Anthony Nolan register and possibly donating their stem cells young men could, potentially, give somebody in need of a transplant a second chance of life.
In Anthony Nolan’s film, the London Lions player speaks about joining the Anthony Nolan register after signing up at a basketball match last November. His first role as an Anthony Nolan supporter is highlighting the fact that, currently, young men provide more than 55% of all stem cell donations, but make up just 16% of the register.
Lamar says: ‘I’m grateful for the opportunity to lend a helping hand to Anthony Nolan by sharing my reasons for joining the stem cell register. It gives me a great feeling knowing that, by being on the Anthony Nolan register, I could Be a Lifesaver and I hope that the campaign inspires others to sign up as donors. You’ll feel proud you did.’
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan says: ‘We are delighted Lamar has been inspired to share his experiences to encourage others to sign up as donors; as our campaign highlights there is a shortage of young men on the Anthony Nolan register.
‘Every day, at least five people start their search for a matching unrelated stem cell donor. As young men are most likely to be chosen to donate we need more of them to join the Anthony Nolan register – so we can save the lives of more people with blood cancer.’
Anyone aged 16–30 and in good general health can join the Anthony Nolan register. To find out more about our Be A Lifesaver campaign, and to join the register visit anthonynolan.org/bealifesaver. Share the campaign using #BeALifesaver.