S4 Ep 3 - Lesley Calder, DKMS Volunteer Hub, Ann Hargreaves and Max Calder - Family First

In this episode I chatted with Lesley Calder, a DKMS volunteer involved with the Hertfordshire and Essex Volunteer Hub, her sister, Ann Hargreaves and Lesley’s son, Max Calder. We discussed Lesley’s experience with her diagnosis of Leukaemia, the luck of finding not one, but two potential matches in her family, Ann’s experience of donating her stem cells to Lesley and Max’s experience of donating to someone in need in America. There’s only a one in four chance of finding a sibling match, but to have two sibling donor matches feels extraordinary and then to have another member of your family go on to donate to someone else, feels like a real blessing. You can register to become a stem cell donor with DKMS at www.dkms.org.uk/register if you are between 16 and 55. You can sign up online, which takes moments. You’ll receive a swab kit, which you’ll need to return after doing a quick #cheekswab. Once registered, you’ll be there until you’re 61 years old. You may not ever be contacted, but if you are needed, you could give a family time together or might even save a life. You can follow the DKMS Herts and Essex Volunteer Hub are and find out more about all that the team are up to at https://www.facebook.com/dkmshertsandessexhub and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dkms_hertsandessexhub/ I always feel so privileged and humbled to be able to speak with such interesting and inspiring individuals on this podcast. Magical Match is always looking for new guests to share their inspirational stories and if you are that person or those people, we would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] for more information. I hope you enjoy the listen.