Global Changemakers

Hello Everyone

This is Kathy at the British Council in the US who has been involved in the Global Changemakers programme from the outset. Some of you I’ve met and many of you I hope to meet at some point, in some country, in the future.  I’ve got the support from Fran and Matt for this posting and I hope that some your brilliant selves might be able to help.  Read on to the end if you would… We’d like this message to go viral and if you can also help to do that we would be hugely appreciative.

The story of Rachel Petkac the bubbly, funny, brilliant Global Changemaker who was an organ donor and whose organs benefitted 21 people, touched all here in our office in Washington. We were impressed by the legacy she left and the lives she saved through her willingness to be a donor.  This week we learned about Devan, a four year old boy at a school in Washington, DC where one of our colleagues’ children also attends.  Devan needs a bone marrow donor in order to save his life in the next twelve weeks.  We would be extremely grateful if you could help get the word out about the need for more people to register as potential bone marrow donors and to possibly also find a match for Devan. He has twelve weeks to find a donor match.

Donor Match Appeal to Help Save Devan’s Life

1. PLEASE, REGISTER NOW. The test is easy & free, but processing takes time (10 weeks in the UK), and Devan doesn’t have much. Register below.
2. PLEASE FORWARD THIS ON TO OTHERS. Anyone can be a match, but those who are mixed Indian/Caucasian have an even better chance of helping Devan. Please, please, forward this to everyone you can. By forwarding this email to at least 10 people now, we can spread the word to 50,000 possible donors within 48 hours. Devan has a one in 200,00 chance of a match.
3. VISIT DEVAN’S SITE – http://www.matchdevan.com – we will be including details on how to organize your own drive, valuable information on leukemia and FAQ’s on registering and donation.

 WHERE TO REGISTER

• In the US go to Be The Match Bone Marrow Registry (you need to be 60 or under)
• In the UK go to the Anthony Nolan Trust (you’ll need to be 40 or under)
• In other countries go to Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide
• Finally, if you’re pregnant, your cord blood is particularly valuable for helping children like Devan – please look here to learn more

- Kathy Culpin