ACLT is an independent charity that formed in 1996 with the main aim to increase the number of ethnic minorities on the UK stem cell (bone marrow) and blood donation registers after co-founders Beverley De-Gale OBE and Orin Lewis OBE received the devastating news their son Daniel De-Gale was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1993 – he was just 6 years old.
Daniel touched the hearts of a nation as he overcame incredible odds of 1 in 250,000 to become the first black individual in the UK to receive a lifesaving stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor in 1999. Daniel beat his fight against leukaemia and lived a happy life alongside his family and friends for several years, however on 8th October 2008, Daniel sadly passed away due to complications with his health.
The hard work carried out by the charity to uphold Daniel’s legacy over the last 24 years has resulted in ACLT saving over 150 lives through boosting the UK stem cell register from a mere 550 black individuals to over 150,000 individuals of all ethnicities, with approx 70% of those individuals from an African and Caribbean background. ACLT has also recruited thousands of blood and organ donors, with the latter becoming a focus for the charity in 2010.
Although the ACLT has contributed significantly to the growth of potential stem cell donors in the UK, the number of individuals of African and Caribbean heritage signed onto the stem cell register still continues to be low; a black, Asian or ethnic minority individual living with blood cancer has less than a 20% chance of finding the best possible match from an unrelated donor (White British individuals have a 60% chance at best).
With the assistance of our supporters, volunteers, ambassadors and partnership such as the one with KickOff@3, we will continue with our mission to ensure no one dies waiting due to a matched donor not being readily available.
Website: www.aclt.org | Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @acltcharity |
