Stafford resident Emilia Harker makes last push to register 300 potential stem cell donors before her birthday

A Stafford resident is appealing to the local community for help with a birthday goal that could genuinely change lives.

Emilia Harker, who has lived in Stafford her whole life, is trying to get 300 people signed up to the DKMS stem cell register before her birthday on Monday 9th February.

Emilia’s link

Here’s the signup link Emilia shared:

dkms.org.uk/emiliaharker

Emilia's Brother-in-law

Why Emilia is doing it

Emilia says the appeal is personal. In 2019, her brother-in-law was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), something that came as a shock because he was otherwise healthy. She says a stem cell transplant from his sister saved his life, meaning he is still here for his two young daughters. (Her story is shared as part of her DKMS appeal.)

Now, Emilia is asking as many people as possible to register as potential donors so that other families have the same chance of finding a match.

What DKMS is and what signing up involves

DKMS is a charity that recruits potential blood stem cell donors and helps fund the process of adding people to the register, including sending out the swab kits.

Signing up is designed to be straightforward:

• You register online and request a free swab kit.

• The kit arrives by post. You swab the inside of your cheeks and send it back.

• Your tissue type is added to the register so you can be searched as a match for patients who need a transplant.

Who can register

DKMS says most people can register if they are:

• aged 17–55 (if you’re 17, you can register but you’ll only become active on the register after you turn 18)

• in generally good health

• UK resident (with some additional eligibility requirements listed by DKMS)

Emilia’s link

Here’s the signup link Emilia shared:

dkms.org.uk/emiliaharker