Katie harnesses pupil power to help save lives
Teen cancer survivor honoured to lead school’ s charity push
Pupils in St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School held a fundraising drive for the Anthony Nolan Trust at the end of last year in support of a fellow pupil.
S6 pupils organised the day in a bid to get as many people as possible registered with the Trust so that they can potentially save a life in the future.
Katie Currie was helped by the charity when she received a bone marrow transplant in 2008 after she was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
She led her S6 leadership class in organising the event as it is a cause very close to the hearts of Katie and her family.
She said: “I was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at the age of three and after a year and half of chemotherapy I went into remission. I then started primary school and started to enjoy a normal childhood.
“Sadly, I relapsed just after my fifth birthday and my only chance of survival was a bone marrow Transplant. With the help of
Anthony Nolan my perfect match was found and I had a donor. I am now just over 11 years posttransplant and living life to its fullest.
“I can’t thank the Anthony Nolan Trust enough, especially Ally Boyle who has been a great support all these years.”
Katie went on to describe how she was ‘honoured’ to lead the drive at her school, and thanked all her fellow pupils for helping and registering.
Katie’s teacher, Mary Campbell, praised her and the S6 pupils and said: “I am really proud as from today, 59 of our S6 pupils are now registered with the Anthony Nolan Trust, hopefully with the potential to save a life in the future.”
Anthony Nolan are the leading UK Blood Cancer Charity who match individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood cancer and blood disorders who desperately need lifesaving transplants.
Young people are most likely to be chosen to donate as they provide better outcomes for patients and are also less likely to have long-term health problems which might delay or prevent donation. For someone with blood cancer, a stem cell transplant could be their last chance of survival.