Troops from 7th Armoured Brigade ‘The Desert Rats’ came out in force across Bergen-Hohne Garrison on 25th on 26th of August to register as new bone marrow donors for leukaemia charity Anthony Nolan. 225 members of Bergen-Hohne Garrison registered over two days at recruitment events taking place in Fallingbostel and Hohne.

Registration was easy with new donors being asked for just a small saliva sample to join the register. The army is a perfect place to recruit as young, healthy people, especially men make the best donors, although anyone can donate as long as they are aged between age 18 and 40, weigh over 8 stone and be in general good health. Anthony Nolan hopes the boost to its register will help find matches for one of 1,400 people in the UK currently in need of a transplant.

Karen Archer, Anthony Nolan’s Recruitment Manager to the Armed Forces, who was on hand to offer advice at the events, said “Just 30% of patients will be able to find a matching donor from within their families, leaving the rest to rely on people who have joined Anthony Nolan’s register. We have a long and established relationship with the Armed Forces and their proactive support for recruitment events has already found matches and saved lives. Troops are an especially important group for us, as the need for young and healthy donors is urgent.”

The recruitment events held in 2’s Brews in Fallingbostel on 25th August and Hohne Roundhouse on 26th August were supported by volunteers from 7 Armoured Company, 2 Bn REME. SSgt Ian Howard of 7 Armoured Company said “As deployment looms and pre-deployment kicks in, time in camp is hard to gauge. As I am in my last year of service and not deploying for the first time it was only right that I did my bit for such a worthy cause.”

Cfn Garry Gale, 24, said “I have done things along these lines in the past, like donating blood; I thought it would be a good idea to help in running the event and get on the donors list myself. You never know, but you could help someone.”