A former police chief who organised a successful mass donation session for those from black, Asian and other minority backgrounds is encouraging others to join the fight against blood cancer.
Former Police chief, Kul Mahay
Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK and, every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma
Saturday, May 28 marks World Blood Cancer Day and Kul Mahay, who spent more than 30 years working for Derbyshire Constabulary before becoming a leadership expert, says that more people from minority backgrounds are desperately needed to help save the lives of others.
Over 2,000 people each year in the UK are in need of a blood stem cell transplant but just 3% of the UK’s population are registered as potential donors – and only a tiny proportion of these are from minority ethnic communities.
Patients from black, Asian or other minority backgrounds have a 37% chance of finding the best possible stem cell donor match, compared to 72% for northern European backgrounds.
In 2013, Kul worked with DKMS – an international charity fighting blood cancer and other blood disorders – to arrange for a swab donation session at a Derby temple.
And, from that session 46-year-old Derby woman Hardeep Bains was found to be a match for a sick boy in India. Hardeep went on to make a stem cell donation and save the life of little Ritesh, who she met up with in 2017, thanks to DKMS.
Kul, from Littleover, said: “I heard of a young boy in Birmingham who desperately needed a stem cell transfer; his parents had been told that there were very few people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds on the stem cell register and, after finding out just how easy it was to make a donation and to join the register, I worked with DKMS to organise a session at a Derby temple.
“It’s really simple; you order a swab kit online, swab your cheeks and then return your kit to DKMS. Once they’ve analysed the swab, you’re added to the register, and you will be available for patients around the world who are searching for a donor.
“We had a great turn-out in Derby. The feedback was so positive – and from that session, Hardeep went on to become a donor for Ritesh, saving his life. He was suffering from a rare blood condition that meant he was having blood transfusions every two weeks and now he is a fit and healthy youngster living in Bhiwani, India.”
Hardeep, a finance worker, said that meeting the boy whose life she saved was an emotional moment.
“I had to go for some health checks first, and then, on the day, the donation was a peripheral collection – just like giving blood – and was a quite simple and straightforward process.
“When I first got the phone call to say that I was a match, I had such mixed emotions. I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect but I was also excited that I was going to help someone’s life.
“And finally meeting Ritesh was just so special. He calls me his ‘second mum’ and sends me messages on Mother’s Day.
“Saving someone’s life is just incredible – and I’d urge as many people as possible to sign up to become a donor.”
Meanwhile, the young boy from Birmingham – Gaurav – went on to find a successful donor, too.
Dad Gurprit has thanked Kul for organising the donor session, calling him a ‘lovely man with a big heart’.
“In 2013, we found out that Gaurav urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. We found out that, being Asian, our chances of finding a match were significantly low as not many people from Asian backgrounds are on the bone marrow register and our son’s match would most likely be Asian.
“Kul heard about our plight via social media. He didn’t know us at the time.
“He set up a donor drive at his local temple where hundreds of people registered, giving our son the best chance of finding a match.
“We learned much later that even before he set up the donor session, he had been going door-to-door with leaflets, visiting the local Asian shops. A lot of time, effort and kindness for us, complete strangers back then.
“We went on to find a match for our son, who is now eight years post-transplant. We’re thankful every day.
“Without Kul’s efforts, this would not have happened. He’s a lovely man with a very big heart.”
ENDS
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