Warwick's Warriors are on the march

A campaign launched by Advertiser sport reporter Warwick Lane to encourage people to join a stem cell register got under way on Sunday.

Information fliers promoting the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity were included in bags handed to runners at the finish of Newark Half-marathon.

Warwick is battling leukaemia for a second time.

As part of his treatment, he will have a stem cell transplant, from a person with the same tissue type, to replace and repair his own damaged cells.

Warwick has been told he has a healthy number of matches for his bone marrow but others are not so fortunate, which is why he said the register was important.

The charity had an information stand at the half-marathon, where Warwick’s parents, Richard and Yvonne, of Norwell, his grandmother, Judith Sampson, and aunt and uncle, Sarah and John Sampson, were among those helping.

Alex Cupit, online recruit lead for the charity, said it was important people signed up.

“What Warwick is doing is inspiring,” he said. “He is raising awareness and hopefully encouraging people to join the register.”

Alex’s mother, Dorothy, a volunteer with the charity, was also on the stand, sharing her story of being the recipient of a stem cell transplant in 2004, at the age of 50.

She needed the transplant after being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.

“It took two years to get a donor for me,” she said.

“In the end they found a near-match in Canada and the transplant was able to go ahead.

“It saved my life and I am so grateful.”

Warwick said he was pleased with the way the campaign had started and grateful to those who signed up to the donors’ list.

“Anyone who signs up to the stem cell register is another potential life-saver, so I am passionate about getting as many people involved as possible,” he said.

“I am hoping to build momentum in the coming weeks and get more sports teams and schools involved in the campaign.”

Joining the register involves filling out a form and swabbing cheeks. People can sign up online.

The charity is looking for anyone aged 16 to 30 who is in good health to consider joining. It particularly needs more young men.

Warwick said: “Although Antony Nolan specifically targets 16 to 30 year-olds, there are charities like, DKMS, which let you sign up until you are 55, so it is something a lot of people can get involved in.

More information is at anthonynolan.org/join

To spread the word about Warwick’s campaign on social media, use the hashtag #WarwicksWarriors