'Help give the gift of life this Christmas' - Stem cell donor drive being held to find match for 'selfless' 21-year-old

Earlier this week, the non-profit Race Against Blood Cancer launched an appeal to help find a stem cell match for a 21-year-old from Telford who is battling cancer.

Marshall Davies, from Dawley, was diagnosed in April 2023 with folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, a rare and potentially aggressive type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This has now progressed to large cell transformation.

Sadly, there is no current match on the stem cell register for Marshall, and the charity is pulling out all the stops to find him a donor. 

Next week, Race Against Blood Cancer is holding its first donor drive of the Marshall's Match campaign, and hoping Christmas shoppers will take just five minutes out of their day to sign up to the stem cell register.

The event will be running from 2.30pm to 6.30pm at Telford Minster at Meeting Point House on Monday, December 23.

Engagement manager Gemma Elsmore said: "Please come along if you are aged 16-55 years and support Marshall by signing up to the stem cell register in person.

"If you are up town Christmas shopping, take five minutes out to help Marshall be given the gift of life this Christmas."

Marshall's family and friends are also urging anyone who has not signed up to the stem cell register to join.

Marshall's sister, Leah Anne, previously said the young man had remained "positive and selfless" throughout his fight with the disease.

She added: "I only have one little brother and I’m hopeful that he will stick around for the long run. We hope to find a match through the support of our friends, family and community.”

Those aged 16 to 30 can sign up via Anthony Nolan at anthonynolan.org/rabc while those aged between 31 and 55 can sign up at raceagainstbloodcancer.com/join.