Spit a bit to save a child

Mar 2, 2010

Hello, I apologise in advance that this news update is rather ‘bitty’.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has been sending post to Sophie and her sister Jessica. Their aunt said:

Sophie and Jessica have been inundated with post of gifts, cards and messages. It has been wonderful to see the few smiles Sophie has given today and Jess has been in her element opening all your lovely parcels. Thank you Post Pals, you do an amazing job, what a fantastic and rewarding organisation and THANK YOU so much to all you amazing people out there who have taken the time to make Sophie and Jessica’s last days together as special for them as it can be under the circumstances by sending all of these gifts.

She has been sent lots of things ranging from a giant teddy bear, Peppa Pig sticker book, Peppa Pig balloons, audio books, cards and lots of other post! I was struck with pride at the way all our volunteers sprung into action so quickly and also at how day in day out they send smiles to children. Some are new to it, some have been sending post since our early days in 2003, some are ill themselves, and a lot of Post Pal families send post to other Pals. Sophie is very weak but fighting on so please keep sending post!

A lot of other Pals are having a tough time at the moment, including Madison who is now too ill for any more chemo, her cancer has spread and it is affecting her breathing. Ashley is undergoing new chemo to try and hold back the progression of his, and Alice is being hit by harsh chemo too. Our volunteer Jane (owner of Percy the Poodle who you will often see mentioned on Pals pages) is organising a project which we need your help for.

**DOGGIE POST FOR ALICE WHO IS FIGHTING CANCER**

Do you have a dog? So you know someone who does? Can you take a photo of him/her and send it to Alice with a few letter about their name, age, favourite toys, food and how they like to spend their days. Alice is absolutely mad about dogs so is going to save all the photos in a scrapbook. Send them to the address on her page here.

Alice is one of many children and adults who are waiting to find a bone marrow donor. Could you spit a bit and save a child?

ARE YOU 18 to 49?

Then ‘SPIT A BIT’ to save a child

Yes you read right, we desperately need your help. Our daughter needs a bone marrow donor and it’s critical. By clicking on the link you can visit Anthony Nolan Trust, complete the form, order a saliva kit and get tested. If there’s a chance of matching, you will be invited for a test to investigate further. You could save a life – if you are between 18 and 40, please take action today – it really doesn’t take much to register.http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/donating/howtojointheregister

If you are older than 40, but still under 50, you can join the NHS bone donor the next time you give blood (ask before your regular or first time blood donation is taken) click on – http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/ and read more about the BBMR (British Bone Marrow Registry). If you don’t currently give blood, then this is your opportunity to do something about it and join. If you’re in America you can join at a bone marrow drive or http://www.abmdr.org/Home.asp

Please email this request to everyone – work colleagues, friends, family, neighbours – in fact, everyone in your contacts list. Post to Facebook, Twitter and wherever else you can, including links to Anthony Nolan and the BBMR. The number of potential bone marrow donors on the register is currently just 400,000 – it’s not nearly enough. Let’s see if we can significantly increase that number through a viral email.

If you copy and paste this onto a new email rather than forwarding, and then send using ‘BCC’, recipients won’t end up with realms of email addresses at the top.

Thank you for your help.