 | ANTHONY NOLAN BONE MARROW TRUST |
Founded in 1974 as the first Register of volunteers willing to donate bone
marrow in circumstances where a match cannot be found within a patient’s
family, The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust now holds one of the largest
databases of unrelated donors in the world. The Trust owes its existence to the determination of Shirley Nolan, who
established the Register in an attempt to save the life of her son, Anthony; a
little boy born in 1971 suffering a rare bone marrow disease which left his
immune system unable to fight infection. Anthony’s single hope of a cure was a bone marrow transplant and, as a
child with no compatible match available within his family, his condition was
diagnosed as untreatable. In 1973, the first successful bone marrow transplant
using an unrelated donor was performed and it seemed that Anthony had a chance,
if only a suitable donor could be found amongst the general public. It was during this search, that Shirley discovered that no register of
potential donors existed and that no funds or facilities were available to
establish one. She determined to find the money and resources required to set
up the very first. Backed by media publicity and support from The National Association of Round
Tables of Great Britain and Ireland, Shirley launched her donor appeal and went
on to secure accommodation for the Trust in the basement of Westminster
Hospital. This was followed in 1978 by the opening of the first Anthony Nolan
Laboratory at St. Mary Abbots Hospital, London. Shirley Nolan (far right) and
supporters campaining for funds in the early 70s. Sadly, no matching donor was ever found for Anthony and he died in 1979 aged
seven, but 1,000s of people happy and well throughout the world today owe their
lives to Shirley’s tireless work. Today, The Trust’s laboratory staff test up to 500 blood samples a week
from potential donors wishing to join the Register and the Trust has direct
links with over 60 other registers around the world. The Trust receives no government funding and is largely reliant on financial
contributions from the general public. The cost of full tissue-typing one donor
is £50.00 and donors are asked if they would be able to contribute towards
the cost of the test but this is not mandatory - no donor has ever been turned
down except on medical grounds. Leaflets are available, and a newsletter is
sent bi-annually to all donors. Support groups/branches are based all over the
UK and details of Regional Appeals Managers are available from Head Office.
Volunteers interested in fundraising and other support work are required.
The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
The Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
Hampstead
London
NW3 2QG  020-7284 1234
 020-7284 8226
 http://www.anthonynolan.com/
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