bone marrow donation.

[punkyp]

I've just registered to be a donor, http://www.anthonynolan.org, they need more young males apparently.

Have a look at what is involved and consider registering. The Facebook message from a woman thanking the anonymous donor for saving her little girls life convinced me.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

Nice work. :thumbup: Already signed up and give blood regularly myself.

[BigBaddad]

I'm too old, apparently?

Seriously, you have to be quite young to be on the register. I've tried, seams a bit silly as they desperately want donors

[punkyp]

I couldn't work that out, you can donate at any age, but there's an upper age limit to registering.

[SvNewbie]

I've been registered for 9 years or so. My cousin donated years ago which convinced me. Thankfully I've never had the call, but would do it in a minute if I was a match.

[punkyp]

Did your cousin get to find out if it worked and the recipient survived?

[Littlepeahead]

I've been on it for years after lots of us at Sony Music got tested to see if anyone was a match for a musician'short younger brother. Sadly we weren't and he died but I would do it for sure. I know it's painful but if you can save a life then it would be worth it.

[punkyp]

From looking at the website, 9 times out of 10 the harvest seems to be using a method of a few injections then a few hours on a machine that the blood goes into and comes out of and not the method that people say is painful.

Seems it is a couple of days out of your life with some hassle to potentially save a life.

[ChrisCurvyS]

Good on you all for registering. I work in this field and while it might seem daft, the upper age limit is there for economic reasons mainly.

Basically, Anthony Nolan etc need to spend their money processing applications from people who will be on the register for many years to come, ie younger people, rather than older people who cost the same to register but will not be 'available' to donate for as long. Bear in mind most people who register will never be called on to donate and you'll hopefully understand the logic.

However, first-time blood donors are welcome up to the age of 65 and you can carry on donating as long as your health allows once you've started. Also, people of all ages can sign up to the Organ Donor Register (www.organdonation.nhs.uk (http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk)) and you almost always donate tissues, even if your organs aren't suitible. Oldest cornea donor was 103!

So plenty of ways to help even if you can't donate bone marrow.

[punkyp]

Harvest me for what ever is needed after I'm done with it, I ticked the box when registering at the docs.

I'm giving blood on Monday too, first donation.

[SvNewbie]

Did your cousin get to find out if it worked and the recipient survived?

Yeah, it was quite a few years back, but if I remember rightly he had a very touching card from the parents of the little girl.

[punkyp]

Yeah, it was quite a few years back, but if I remember rightly he had a very touching card from the parents of the little girl.

Nice one. If it were me, I'd be wearing a cape there after.

[ChrisCurvyS]

Harvest me for what ever is needed after I'm done with it, I ticked the box when registering at the docs.

I'm giving blood on Monday too, first donation.
Good stuff mate. You might find all the questions a bit bureaucratic - this is a fair summary of the experience:

http://scaryduck.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/on-not-actually-giving-blood.html

- but it's all about safety. Enjoy it - it's dead easy and also good for you too.

[WeegieBlue]

Boy in my street got leukaemia and needed a transplant so about 1500 people on my town went along to be tested. They managed to find a match and the boy survived. I signed up and also did a 110 mile bike ride last September to raise money for Anthony Nolan.

Costs nothing for you and you could save someone's life. Why wouldn't you?