Bone marrow donations
Last week many students braved their fear of needles to give blood, in the hope that they might be a match to donate bone marrow. IC Marrow, set up four years ago, held a two-day donor recruitment event which aimed to raise awareness of the Anthony Nolan Trust, recruit donors and raise money for the worthy charity.
This year IC Marrow organised a film night as well as recently holding a Fun Run in Hyde Park. Many college professors, lecturers and students took part in the run, which had prizes for the best team and the fastest times. On the 20th of this month, the society will also be holding an art exhibition. Gokulan Phoenix, president of IC Marrow, said that "the response has been brilliant and by the end of this awareness campaign we will have raised £20,000!"
So far, nearly 300 students have been registered at IC Marrow's clinic (which could be found upstairs in the union).
The clinic was run by 35 volunteers, with fifth and final year medical students taking blood samples from each donor.
IC Marrow has only been around for four years, but the first university to be linked with the Anthony Nolan Trust was Nottingham University in 1997. Soon afterwards, over 20 medical schools had a society which promoted the trust.
The Anthony Nolan Trust provides lifesaving donors for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. Since 1974 they have helped to give over 4,000 children and adults a new chance of life.
