A Greater Manchester restaurant is hosting a stem cell swab drive in the hope of finding a bone marrow donor for a young lad battling leukaemia. Four-year-old Dillan Ramsey needs a bone marrow transplant after doctors found that his cancer had spread to his spine.
So Menagerie in Salford will be running the swab drive from 9.30am tomorrow morning (August 31) until 3pm. Anyone can come along and be swabbed, with their details then being logged onto the DKMS register, the non-profit international bone marrow donor centre.
It’s hoped that by spreading the word about the swab drive, more donors could be found, not only for Dillan but for others in need of bone marrow transplants around the world. Dillan’s mum Amy has been documenting the family’s journey online, and it’s already gained a host of influential supporters.
The likes of Michelle Keegan, Mark Wright, England footballer John Stones, designer Nadine Merabi and actors Brooke Vincent and Cath Tyldsley have all shared videos on social media encouraging followers to sign up.
Amy told the Manchester Evening News: "We have six weeks to find a bone marrow match for Dilly. The hospital want him to have the transplant in the second week of October, so we don't have much time.
"You can help us find a match by going to the donor drive and having your cheeks swabbed. It's the easiest way to save someone's life, and if you're not a match for Dillan, there are lots of other toddlers desperately searching too."
Dillan has been battling leukaemia since he was two-years-old. But just a few weeks ago, and only 24 hours after being told that he would be able to finish his treatment early, doctors found that his cancer had spread.
After failing to find a donor via the UK’s stem cell donor database, the net is now being spread wider. If potential donors cannot make it to the swab drive tomorrow, the test - involving a painless cheek swab - can also be done at home by requesting an online pack.
You can find more details on DKMS here. And you can find Menagerie at New Bailey, Ground One, New Bailey St, Salford M3 5JL.
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