As Blood Cancer Awareness month draws to an end, the life-saving stem cell charity Anthony Nolan has praised the number of people in the north now signed up to its register.
The charity has revealed that more than 8,000 are registered from the region to donate bone marrow should a match be found, 23% of those men of the 16 to 30 age category – the group most likely to donate.
Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “In the last year 1,323 selfless people from the Highlands and Islands joined the Anthony Nolan register, each one representing hope for patients with blood cancer, and blood disorders, in need of matching stem cell donors.
“To everyone from the Highlands and Islands who has taken the decision to join the register, thank you.
“Without you, there is no cure.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has encouraged more people to sign up to the register to provide someone who requires a stem cell donor the best possible chance at survival.
She said: “I am very proud that the Highlands and Islands has 8,187 potential donors on the register, any one of whom could offer the only chance of giving someone with blood cancer a second chance at life.
“Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure.”