'Phenomenal' marrow list increase

Bone marrow is used to help treat leukaemia patients

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people in Jersey prepared to donate bone marrow to help people with leukaemia.

About 600 people have come forward to the Anthony Nolan Trust in the past 12 months, compared to 25 the year before.

The volunteers are to go on an international database to see if they could be a match for a cancer patients around the world.

The Jersey Friends of the Anthony Nolan Trust said it was "phenomenal".

Kate Baigent, vice chairwoman of the Jersey Friends, said: "It is absolutely remarkable because for 15 years the Jersey Friends have been trying to get awareness out there, and if we got 25 or maybe 50 donors we were absolutely delighted.

"But in the 12 months, going up to 600 is absolutely phenomenal."

In 2008, the trust got matches for 758 patients who required a bone marrow transplant.