Leukaemia victim’s mission to help stem cell charity Everyone should get a second chance at life. But I got a third. That is why I now want to give something back
had relapsed and a stem cell transplant was her best hope of survival.
Rosie said: “The worldwide database was searched for a donor and 29 possible matches identified. One was a 10 out of 10. All I was told was that he was a 21-year-old from England.
“Not long before I was due to have the transplant, I took really ill and ended up in intensive care with pneumonia and sepsis. It was touch and go for a while.
“I was too weak for a transplant. It eventually went ahead in October 2014 in the Beatson in Glasgow.”
For the next two years, Rosie endured gruelling chemo and lumbar punctures, with long stays in hospitals. Despite being so ill, she could not stop thinking how much she owed to the kindness of a stranger and decided to organise a fundraiser for Anthony Nolan with the help of her friends from school.
Rosie said: “We settled on a quiz night and set a target of £5000. It went ahead on February 9 at the New Inn Hotel in Ellon. We raised £9000.”
Just two weeks after the quiz, Rosie went for a routine check-up and was told her leukaemia had returned.
She said: “Once again, a transplant was my best hope. I had the procedure in the summer. It was the same donor who once again saved my life.”
Rosie, who is now in remission and planning a second fundraising event, is delighted to be our first Young ng Scot nominee off 2018.
She said: “It’s’s a real honour to be nominated as it is another way of raising awareness of how important it is for people to sign up to the stem cell donor register.”
Anthony Nolan senior community fundraiser Lawrie Mallyon, said: “Rosie is truly deserving of her nomination.
“Her dedication to fundraising is an inspiration and she has managed to use her tough experience as motivation to organise a remarkable event to support the work of the trust.”
Over the last 13 years, the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards have celebrated the exceptional contributions and humbling achievements of our young people. We have recognised 422 finalists, 141 awardwinners and given our ultimate accolade of overall Young Scot to 12 young people.
The 2018 Awards will be extra special as they will come at the end of the Year of Young People – a programme of events, activities and ideas that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of.
Our annual awards recognise young people in 14 categories, including enterprise, sport, volunteering, arts and environment. The category winners will be announced at a party at Glasgow’s SEC on November 30. Sundayy Mail editor Brendan McGinty said: “It is a privilege for this newspaper ttoo hhelp salute the acachievements of our youyoung heroes. “The 2018 awards are set to be the climax of the Year of Young PeopPeople and promise to be bigbigger and better than ever before.b “If anyonea is in doubt that SScotland’s future is in safe hands, the nominnominat ions for our awards will reassure them.” Young Scot chief executive Louise Macdonald, said: “Young ppeople in Scotland are doing absolutely amazing things every single day. “If there’s a young person who impresses you, then we want to hear about them. Get your nominations in today.” The Sunday Mail and Young Scot are looking for volunteers aged 11 to 26 to help deliver next year’s awards ceremony. Panel members will be involved in all the big decisions. You have until Friday to apply. Visit young.scot/get-involved for all the information.
To nominate, go to www.youngscot awards.com. To buy tickets for the event phone 0141 309 4909.