Remembering Joel by helping others

A blood-testing clinic in memory of Joel Picker-Spence, who died of leukaemia last year, takes place at Newark Hospital next month.

The clinic is being organised by Joel’s mother, Mrs Ann-Marie Spence, Mr Andy Ward, who has leukaemia, and staff at Newark Hospital.

It will be in the Eastwood Centre on June 23, from 11am to 3pm, and from 4pm to 7pm, and will be run by the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Mrs Spence, of The Meadows, Farndon, said they wanted to hold another clinic because some people were unable to attend the one at Kelham Hall last year, which was organised to find a bone marrow match for Joel, and others were also not old enough to join the register.

She will be at the clinic to hand out leaflets. Joel’s brother, Sean, and sister, Eva, will be there after school wearing the t-shirts they had made featuring a picture of Joel.

Mrs Spence, who is already on the register, said: “The clinic is going to be one of many. We are hoping to do one at King’s Mill Hospital, where Joel was born, and one at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where Joel was treated.”

Joel was diagnosed on New Years’ Day 2005 and was due to have a bone marrow transplant in September but the operation was cancelled after the cancer returned. He died in November.

More than 200 people attended the clinic at Kelham Hall in August after an appeal in the Advertiser to find a bone marrow match for Joel.

This is where Mrs Spence met Mr Ward, of Sleaford, who read about Joel and wanted to lend his support.

People who want to become a potential donor must be 18 to 40 and in general good health. People will remain on the register until their 60th birthday. They need to weigh more than eight stone and have a body mass index of less than 35.

Pregnant women and those with children under 12 months cannot join.