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Olympic star joins campaign to help baby
Olympic swimmer Katy Sexton has pledged her support for our campaign to help a baby in need of a bone marrow transplant.
The 28-year-old has agreed to join the bone marrow donor register to see if she is a match for three-month-old Jasmine Andrew.
And she is asking readers to do the same.
As reported in The News, Jasmine has a rare and potentially life-threatening immune system deficiency which means she is constantly vulnerable to infections and viruses.
She is in isolation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Katy, from Cosham, said: 'It's such a good cause to get involved in. You could end up helping Jasmine or someone else on the register.
'Someone you might know, or a family member, could need a bone marrow transplant one day.
'The story about Jasmine is very sad. But if everyone gets on board, then we can try to help her.'
The News announced earlier this week that there will be a sign up session on Tuesday, September 7 at the Guildhall in Portsmouth, 11am to 4pm.
Anthony Nolan, a charity which specialises in finding bone marrow donor matches, will be running the session.
It is hoped hundreds of people will spare half an hour of their time to go to the event and see if they can help Jasmine.
We would love to hear from groups of people, such as work colleagues and businesses, who are planning to attend. Call (023) 9262 2169 or email rachel.hawthorn@thenews.co.uk
HOW TO HELP
The bone marrow donor sign-up session will take place on Tuesday, September 7, in the small concert hall at the Guildhall in Portsmouth.
The session will run from 11am to 4pm and people can drop in anytime.
Signing up will take about half-an-hour. An Anthony Nolan volunteer will talk to you about registering and help you fill out a medical questionnaire. You will then be asked to give a saliva sample.
That sample will then be sent to a laboratory in London where staff will check what tissue type you are. You will then be put on the bone marrow donor register and contacted if you are a match.
To become a donor you need to be aged between 18 and 40, although once on the register, your details will be kept until you reach 60; you need to be in good health; and be fully committed to undergo the donation procedure if required.
If you cannot attend the sign up session you can still register by calling the Anthony Nolan charity on 0303 303 0303 or visiting anthonynolan.org
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Friday 10 February 2012
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