Bone marrow drive targets pupils

The service want to double the 40,000 people on the registry

A campaign to make primary school children more aware of the importance of bone marrow and blood donations has been launched in west Wales.

The Welsh Blood Service said it needed to double the 40,000 names currently on the Welsh Bone Marrow Registry.

The campaign was launched at a Pembrokeshire school, where a donor and recipient will also meet.

Falklands veteran Simon Weston and former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable supported the event.

The Welsh Bone Marrow Registry has matched over 400 donors for transplants in the past 14 years.

I am so grateful to Mark- without his bone marrow I would not be here today Craig Rankine

Although it is ranked as one of the best in the world for its matching technologies, it says it needs to double the numbers it has on its books from the current number of 40,000.

The service has invited all schools in Pembrokeshire to take part in art and performance competitions with the theme of "Hope".

It is hoped it will encourage children to think about becoming donors in the fuure.

You have to be aged 17 to give blood and 18 to register as a bone marrow donor.

The schools have been asked to design a Christmas card and a poster which will be used for the Welsh Blood Service's winter campaign.

Matching donors

The campaign was launched at Mount Airey School in Haverfordwest, with guests Simon Weston and Stuart Cable.

Two others attending were Pembrokeshire man Mark Williams, who donated his bone marrow in September 2000, and Craig Rankine, 20, who received it.

Stuart Cable and Simon Weston are supporting the event

The blood service said Mr Rankine, who was seriously ill with leukaemia, was an example of why the service needed to double its registry.

None of his family were perfectly matching donors, but the registry found Mr Williams.

Mr Rankine said: "I am so grateful to Mark. Without his bone marrow, I would not be here today.

"I find it strange that my blood group changed and I am now the same as Marks - a change from O negative to A positive!

"My brother and sister were tested but unfortunately were not suitable. My consultant told me that Mark was a perfect match."

Mr Rankine was two years old when he was first diagnosed, although he has relapsed for four times.

A Welsh Blood Service spokesperson said: "We all hear about patients needing bone marrow transplants and sadly as we all know some are never found, devastating families for ever.

"Educating the young on donation, we hope, is our way forward so that more of these patients can lead healthy active lives."