Bristol bone marrow donation scheme hailed success

A scheme in Bristol to encourage teenagers to sign up for bone marrow donation has been hailed a success.

Six sixth forms took part in a pilot programme set up by the Antony Nolan Trust, inspired by the late Adrian Sudbury.

It is a year to the day since Adrian died aged 27, and independent assessors have said that the Register & Be a Lifesaver campaign has led to a large increase in the number of young people considering giving blood, tissue or organs.

The scheme, run by the trust and NHS Blood and Transplant, was launched at Cotham School in March, when students were addressed by Adrian's mother Kay.

They heard how, after her son was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he became passionate about informing young people about bone marrow donation.

His "Baldy's Blog" caught the attention of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the then Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Adrian secured £80,000 funding from the Government and private sector for the education and information programme designed to dispel myths and misconceptions about the donation process.

Young people are often the best choice of donors because they tend to be healthier and have more years potentially to donate.

Seventeen is the age at which they can start giving blood and can register as organ donors, often when they apply for a driving licence.

But anyone aged 18 to 40 can join the Bone Marrow Register.

Those who sign up will be required to give a teaspoonful of blood. If they are found to be a match for someone, giving a donation takes three to four hours. Blood is taken from one arm, the stem cells are harvested and then the blood returned to the other arm.

Bristol was chosen for the scheme because of its racially diverse population. There is a particular shortage of donors from some ethnic minority backgrounds.

The "R&B" campaign trained 65 volunteers, known as Adrian's Army, who delivered more than 60 presentations and seminars to 3,250 students in sixth forms and colleges in Bristol and South Yorkshire in five months.

The pilot led to the number of young people who said they would definitely donate tissue more than doubling after hearing the presentation.

Other Bristol schools and colleges who took part were Merchants' Academy in Withywood, Brisling- ton Enterprise College, North Bristol Post 16 Centre at Redland Green, and St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School.

The organisers hope to expand the scheme across the country and are buoyed by the verdict of independent assessors, who said the trial had been an outstanding success.

Adrian's father Keith Sudbury said: "This helps us build the case with Government and other potential sources of funding.

"We've had requests from 55 schools inviting volunteers to deliver the talks over the next few months.

"We will deliver those talks come what may."