Clapton CFC is teaming up with blood cancer charity DKMS once again to tackle blood cancer head-on.
At our first donor registration drive at a Men’s First Team game vs Stonewall in 2019, over 100 people signed up for the DKMS stem cell register out of a crowd of 619.
We’re doing it all again at the Men’s First Team home match against Forest Hill Park on Saturday, April 26.
At least two CCFC members have donated stem cells, giving others a second chance at life. And one of our own, Sukhdev, is alive today thanks to a stem cell transplant.
Become a hero in just 10 minutes
DKMS volunteers will be at the Forest Hill Park match, ready to sign up potential life-savers. The process is quick, simple, and could change someone’s life forever.
- Come to the match
- Visit the DKMS table
- Complete a short form
- Do a quick mouth swab
- That’s it.
You’ll then be added to the registry and will be contacted if you’re a donor match for someone in need. 90% of stem cell donations are as simple as giving blood and every registration increases the chance of finding a match.
Why this matters
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer or disorder. For many, a stem cell transplant is their best hope of survival—but finding a matching donor isn’t easy.
Clapton CFC member Sukhdev shares his story:
“Someone out there gave me the most selfless gift imaginable—a blood stem cell transplant. We’ve never met, and I don’t even know their name. But their donation saved my life. Could it be you next time?
“After six rounds of chemotherapy, I knew I needed a transplant to survive. When I found out there was a match, it was like winning the lottery. That’s why we need more people to join the registry. You could be the match someone is desperately waiting for.”
Clapton CFC Reserves captain Elizabeth Atoyebi recently donated her stem cells to help a complete stranger.
“My friends were shocked and a bit squeamish hearing that I was donating my stem cells. Everyone immediately thinks of a painful procedure taking your bone marrow – but that’s not the case. It doesn’t hurt to be on the register – you’re unlikely to actually be called but, if you do, you could save a life.”
You don’t need to wait
If you’re in Britain, you can sign up to the register through the DKMS website any time. You’ll be posted a kit. Take a quick swab of the inside of your cheeks, send it back in the package provided, and you’re done.
There are stem cell registries in over 61 countries including Canada | France | Germany | Italy | Mexico | Spain | US | All countries