Blues chosen to launch campaign

By David Watters

Wingate & Finchley had the honour of using one of their Ryman Premier clashes to kick off a new donor campaign by charity Delete Blood Cancer.

Before and after their 5-1 win over Burgess Hill Town in February, volunteers from the UK charity encouraged supporters from both sides to sign up to their blood stem cell donor register and help in the making of a new promotional video at the Harry Abrahams Stadium.

It only take two minutes to sign up and the charity's launch event also saw fans at the fixture getting the chance to take part in a two minute goal-scoring challenge that is now being run at other grounds around the country to symbolise how easy it is to sign up and save lives of blood cancer patients.

Using a ‘DBC Tekkers Goal’, players had to shoot 10 balls through target holes of varying sizes within the time limit to earn points and fans were also encouraged to film and share the event on social media under the hashtag #DBCTekkers.

Wingate & Finchley

Wingate & Finchley

Delete Blood Cancer chose football to launch their latest campaign because men aged 18-30 who are in good health produce more blood stem cells and so can make an excellent match for patients waiting for a transplant to save their life.

Someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma every 20 minutes and by filming the events for their website and social media platforms, Delete Blood Cancer UK hope to raise online awareness and encourage more young men to join up as potential lifesavers.

Spokesman Ben Allen said: “With around 1,800 people every year in the UK seeking a matching donor, only 60 per cent will find the donor they need. Too many are dying because a suitable matching donor cannot be found for them. It doesn’t have to be this way.

“The more people who register as potential blood stem cell donors, the better the chances of matching donors being found for those who need them. That’s why we have created the Tekkers challenge, to raise important awareness while having a bit of light-hearted fun.”

For more information on the charity or to become a potential donor visit: www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk/en

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Where next?

Tuesday's Ryman North action review The top game in Ryman North on Tuesday night saw second-placed Thurrock win 2-1 at Hayes Lane against fourth-placed Cray Wanderers, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
Seven up on Tuesday's live scores! Stay in touch with Tuesday night's action across the Ryman League on the live scores service.

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