Pledge to save a life in 2019
As New Year resolutions go, saving a life in 2019 is a pledge worth making.
We don’t expect everyone will achieve the goal, but the most important thing is that they try.
And in Sunderland, lifesavers are in great demand.
Unfortunately, as we reveal today, potential lifesaving donors to the blood cancer charity DKMS are in short supply.
The charity’s statistics show that more than 2,500 people signed up to help, but that only represents 9.4% of DKMS donors in the North East.
It’s a costly low turnout for our community.
We have been at the forefront of a drive to find a match for youngster Chloe Gray who is in desperate need of a blood stem cell transplant.
Chloe suffers from the rare blood disorder Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, and without a suitable match, she faces a bleak future. The family organised a number of donation days in the city and there was a great turnout.
Sadly, no match for Chloe has been found, but the search goes on.
Her mum Francesca Bowser, has made a heartfelt plea for people to come forward.
She said: “She’s very brave. If you look at her you might not realise she is fighting a blood disorder. It’s such a horrible condition, but she just gets on with it.”
The test itself could not be simpler.
It takes just a few minutes of your time but it could mean the difference between life or death to sufferers like Chloe.
If you’ve already made resolutions to cut down on booze or lose some weight, we would implore you to add another to the list.
Pledge to save a life in 2019 and you never know, you just might succeed...