Race Against Blood Cancer celebrates 11 years of saving lives as charity football match raises £1,411
Race Against Blood Cancer is celebrating its 11th birthday alongside the success of its annual charity football match, which raised an incredible £1,411 in donations at
the weekend.
Founded in 2015, Race Against Blood Cancer works to give everyone living with blood cancer an equal chance of finding a potentially lifesaving stem cell donor. The charity raises awareness, delivers donor recruitment events and focuses particularly on improving the diversity of the stem cell register, where people from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and other minority ethnic backgrounds remain significantly less likely to find a suitable match.
Over the past 11 years, Race Against Blood Cancer has helped thousands of people join the stem cell register, with donors recruited through the charity going on to provide lifesaving stem cell donations to patients in need.
The Remembering Khaleel Event brought players, supporters, volunteers and members of the local community together to raise money and awareness. This annual event was held in in memory of Khaleel Khan, who sadly died from blood cancer in 2017 at just 12 years old.
Gemma Elsmore of Race Against Blood Cancer, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate our 11th birthday. The Remembering Khaleel event is always a really special event, bringing together people who care deeply about our cause and want to help us make a difference.
“We are absolutely delighted that £1,411 was donated over the weekend. As a small charity, every donation genuinely matters and will help us continue raising awareness, attending community events and encouraging more people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to join the stem cell register.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played, volunteered, donated, provided prizes or came along to support the event. Eleven years on, our purpose remains as important as ever: to create a future where everyone living with blood cancer has an equal chance of finding their lifesaving match.”
Race Against Blood Cancer is inviting people to help mark its 11th birthday by learning more about stem cell donation, joining the register if eligible, volunteering, fundraising or making a donation.
For further information, visit www.raceagainstbloodcancer.com.
A special thanks to our DJ Kenneth Green, Singer Dave Fall, Dancer Kyra Jones, Cheeky Chops by Jayde, Khaleel’s family, Wrockwardine Football Club and Donnington Sports and Social Club.
Also, to businesses who donated raffle prizes:-
- Warped Sports
- KMV Aesthetics
- Casey’s Cordingley Hall
- 1 st Choice Roasts and Desserts
- Hair Definition by Lisa
- Solace & Serenity
- Tenpin Telford
- Hoo Zoo
- Shanghai Star
- Donnington Sports & Social Club
