Donor drive champion blazes new charity trail
Ex-firefighter in blood cancer appeal
A campaigning former firefighter has marked Blood Cancer Awareness Month in Holyrood.
Ally Boyle met with MSPS to shine a spotlight on the vital work being done locally to ensure every patient in need of a stem cell transplant can find a lifesaving donor.
The Blantyre man was diagnosed with a blood cancer (myelodysplasia) in 2008, a condition for which the only potential cure is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
And while he was Area Commander of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Ally initiated a groundbreaking partnership with the Anthony Nolan charity in 2009.
A total of 9279 potential stem cell donors are currently registered with Anthony Nolan. And this achievement was highlighted by the blood cancer charity as part of its Communities vs Blood Cancer campaign.
Ally, who worked shifts alongside 9/11 heroes at Ground Zero in New York during a 17-year career with Strathclyde Fire service, was told he had three years to live after his diagnosis.
But he defied the odds and although he retired in 2014, started working alongside Anthony Nolan.
Ally said: “Being in the fire service taught me that there is always something you can do to help others but, most importantly, it showed me that by working together there is almost nothing that can’t be accomplished. The partnership is a fantastic example of just that.””
In the past decade, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has recruited 14,000 potential donors to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register through their innovative SFRS Education Programme, which sees SFRS volunteers deliver inspiring educational presentations about stem cell, blood and organ donation to 16 to 18-year-olds across Scotland.
Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “Residents can be proud of all the lifesavers in your community. We rely on young people aged 16-30 joining the register now to save lives in the future. Without you, there is no cure.”
Visit anthonynolan.org/join to register