A Glasgow man, who saved a life after donating stem cells, is urging others to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.
Will Briant, 26, made his crucial donation in 2019 after he was found to be the perfect match for a patient.
However, if it wasn't for his wife Libby, who he met aged 17, the civil servant may never have signed up.
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Will told Glasgow Live: "Before we went to university she asked me if I've heard of the stem cell register or Anthony Nolan and I'd never heard of it before. I had heard of giving blood but never heard of donating stem cells.
"So I looked up the Anthony Nolan stem cell register and it seemed like a no brainer. The thought that something so simple from me could save someone's life in the future appealed to me, so I signed up.
"A pack came through, which I did at home, then I was on the register two weeks later."
Stem cell transplants are vital for severe blood cancer sufferers. The treatment will only be carried out if all other potential cures have not worked.
Will continued to volunteer for Anthony Nolan during his years at Edinburgh University whilst he waited to be called upon to donate.
Then he was found to be a genetic match for someone desperate for a transplant.
He said: "I was on the register for four years before I came up as a match.
"During those years Libby and I did a lot of volunteering for the student wing of Anthony Nolan. The process is very simple, nine times out of 10 it is a similar process to giving blood.
"I had a phone call saying that I'd come up as a potential match. I did another blood test so they could get more information. Before Christmas during my final year of university I got the news that I was the best possible match for the patient so I was donating in the new year.
"I got taken to London for medical tests to make sure there would be no issues with me donating. Two weeks later I went back to London and Libby was my support.
"The process was really simple. I sat in a bed for four hours with a needle in each arm, the machine took out my blood, whizzed it around, skimmed out the stem cells and returned it to me.
"During my donation I watched loads of Alan Partridge, they brought me loads of nice food and I even got a visit from a volunteer. After donating I felt fine, the next day I returned to Edinburgh, was back in uni and back in my job."
It wasn't until a letter arrived through the door that Will truly understood the impact the four hour process really had on a person's life.
The 26-year-old said: "A month after my donation, when I was really busy with my dissertation and busy with my job, I came home and found a letter.
"It was a letter from the guy I'd donated to. He reached through Anthony Nolan with an anonymous letter.
"He spoke about how he had four children and nine grandchildren. That really brought home to me that I wasn't just doing it for one person, he now gets to spend extra time with his family and friends.
"During the pandemic we saw how precious just a few extra months could be. I keep that letter on my desk.
"That is a constant reminder of the impact I've had on that person's life."
Anthony Nolan remains a big part of the couples lives, with Will chairing the ‘Marrow’ Alumni Committee and recently playing piano for the Carol Concert.
He is adamant that without Libby's encouragement and support he may have never donated stem cells.
Will now hopes more couples will discuss signing up for the register.
Will said "People should ask their loved ones and friends if they are signed up to the register and if they've looked into it.
"If Libby hadn't spoken to me about it I may have never joined it or gone on to donate.
"Anthony Nolan is on the look out for young men to join the register. Young men donate half of the time but they only make up 18 per cent of the register at the moment.
"People don't realise that the few minutes it takes to sign up could save someone's life in the future."
Libby added: “It made me so proud to see Will donating to potentially save a stranger's life.
"After years of volunteering, it was interesting to see the other side of the process. It goes to show that, if you ask someone to sign up to the register, they may just go on to donate.”
To find out more about Anthony Nolan and the stem cell donation register click here
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