HELLO all of you peeps in Newcastle reading this when you should be revising/recovering from the NMDSC Ball/end of exams etc etc - how would you fancy going along to a Marrow clinic tonight? For those of you who don't know, Marrow is The Anthony Nolan Trust - a wonderful charity that helps save lives from leukaemia by finding healthy bone marrow donors and matching them with people whose immune systems have been shot to bits by high-dose chemo. (A bit like mine, if you think about it - though mine manages to pull itself back together with Neupogen, and anyway ABVD is only moderate dose chemo.)
I knew a bit about Marrow before the whole Hodge thing started - mainly because I live with the Marrow President. Never live with the Marrow President - Marrow will try to TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE! She tried to get my bone marrow but unfortunately I wasn't allowed to join the Bone Marrow Register because of my coeliac disease - anyone with autoimmune disease is automatically excluded. (It's probably not the best idea to give someone with leukaemia some mildly schizophrenic bone marrow that might well decide to start attacking its own body...) But if you would be able to donate bone marrow to someone who really really needs it, and you are in the Newcastle/Jesmond area, could you PLEASE consider popping down to Jesmond Methodist Church tonight from 6:00 - 8:20pm? You will have a chat with a counsellor and then a small sample of blood will be taken to see if you are a match to save someone's life! Free biscuits and juice are provided. The clinic is open to anyone so spread the word and take along your housemates and friends. For more information see the Facebook event. If even one person reads this and goes along to join the register I will be CHUFFED.
I used to give blood too but found out that if you have ever had a blood cancer as an adult, you're automatically barred from giving blood ever again. If you've had it as a child you are allowed to donate after 10 years in the clear. I was v. irritated at this but have vowed to pester other people to donate theirs instead.... watch this space! (When I find out when the next few blood clinics are on in Newcastle.)
aww girly, are you bored? don't worry, there will be lots to entertain you this week in the toon - i may be attempting to bake again which will be hilarious (for you!).
ReplyDeleteGood Marrow plugging - Janet will be proud! There were so many of them around Jesmond, it was hard to miss so hopefully lots of people did join! See you soon, Jenny xxx