By Monica Gibson

PEOPLE in East Renfrewshire have their finger on the pulse when it comes to helping to cure blood cancer.

Paul Masterton, the area’s MP, joined a cross-party parliamentary event to celebrate the number of people who are registered as stem cell donors.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Stem Cell Transplantation, supported by blood cancer charity and stem cell register Anthony Nolan, held the event to mark the progress made by the transplant community in the past year.

In East Renfrewshire, the number of potential stem cell donors registered with Anthony Nolan is 1,377.

A total of 44 per cent of these donors are male and the average age is 33.

East Renfrewshire also manages to rank in the top 100 parliamentary constituencies for the number of potential lifesavers on the stem cell register.

In total, 645,000 people in the UK are on the Anthony Nolan register, any one of whom could be a match for someone with blood cancer and asked to donate their stem cells to give a patient a second chance of life.

Mr Masterton is encouraging more people from East Renfrewshire, particularly men aged between 16 and 30 and those from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, to register as stem cell donors and make sure that a match is available for everyone in need of a transplant.

While anyone on the register could be a match for someone with blood cancer, men aged from 16 to 30 are most likely to be asked to donate and are currently under-represented on the register.

There is also a shortage of donors from non-white and mixed-race backgrounds.

Mr Masterton said: “I am very proud that East Renfrewshire has 1,377 people who have selflessly volunteered to give someone a second chance at life.

“Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure.

“I strongly hope that more people from East Renfrewshire will be inspired to sign up and show that, together, our communities can provide a cure for blood cancer.”

Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, added: “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to celebrate the achievements the transplant community has made in the past year and we are particularly grateful to all the registered donors in East Renfrewshire for helping us in our goal of saving and improving the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.

“Anthony Nolan’s pioneering research, dedicated nurses and patient-focused services mean we have increased the support patients receive at every stage of their transplant journey but, without the contribution of selfless donors, our vital work would be impossible.”

For more information about the All Party Parliamentary Group for Stem Cell Transplantation, click here.

To learn more about the work being done by Anthony Nolan and how you can offer someone the gift of life by registering to become a stem cell donor, visit www.anthonynolan.org.