The ACLT's challenge to find Lifesavers

Our challenge to find lifesavers

Over 28,500 children and adults every year face the devastating news that they have a blood cancer such as leukaemia. They rely on regular blood transfusions and for some, their only hope of survival is to receive a lifesaving racially-matched bone marrow donor

Finding a match to save lives Inspired by the plight of Daniel and others, ACLT charity was established to provide valuable support to people with blood cancers who rely on regular blood transfusions or face the incredible challenge of a worldwide search for a racially-matched bone marrow donor. Around 70% of patients need bone marrow from a stranger but due to greater genetic diversity and low donor registrations, the odds of finding a match for Black, Mixed race and Asian patients could be around one in 100,000 or worse

Finding blood donors. The NHS needs 7,000 units of blood daily to supply hospitals across England and North Wales. Blood groups vary by ethnicity: 20% of the black African and Caribbean population are blood group B and only 9% of western Europeans share this group. However, less than 1% of UK blood donors are Black or Mixed race

Finding bone marrow donors. Just 14 years ago, only 550 Black people had ever joined the bone marrow register. Through targeted donor appeals and registration drives the ACLT has helped boost numbers to around 34,000 and found 30 matching donors

Meeting the financial costs. The cost of educational programmes, patient appeals to the UK public in the media and registration drives continues to rise and we struggle to cover these costs year by year. We need your financial support to help us deliver our current and long term educational and donor registration programmes and campaigns

You can help us fight leukaemia

ACLT was co-founded in 1996 by Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis, the parents of former leukaemia sufferer Daniel De-Gale. Daniel desperately needed a matched bone marrow transplant from a stranger to help save his life

Daniel and his family witnessed the power of the community spirit when tens of thousands registered as donors to help Daniel and others like him back to health. Daniel won his battle with leukaemia due to the acts of kindness of one special bone marrow donor and many other strangers who give blood to help people with life-threatening conditions

Click here to see our latest patient appeals

You can be the one to make a difference today

Great ways to support the ACLT

1. Become a blood donor Click here

2. Become a bone marrow donor Click here

3. Join the Team ACLT Gold Challenge to raise funds with your Olympic multiple sport challenge!

• You can help us fight leukaemia and other life-threatening conditions

• Leave a lasting legacy to improve the health of the world's communities in the future

• You can support ACLT spearhead, Daniel's De-Gale's Olympic dream to support the Games and unite the world's communities in the UK