Nearly 300 people became registered donors on Saturday, in the hope that they could be the match desperately needed, by 38 year old computer engineer, Kevin Phelps.
 | | Stage 1 - Registration |
His family and friends, volunteers and members of the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust worked tirelessly from the early morning, till after seven in the evening, to make sure the registration process went as quickly and smoothly as possible. The registration process It took around 30 minutes for each donor to register. They were first asked to fill in a form asking a series of basic health questions. Then they watched a video about the importance of what they were doing, followed by a Q & A session, which was conducted by Orin Lewis from the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust. Finally a small sample of blood is taken to be tested. If you want more information on the process of being a donor, or have any other queries please contact the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) on:
 | | Stage 2 - Q& A |
0208 667 1122 or visit www.aclt.org Good turnout Kevin remains critically ill in Sandwell hospital, after two courses of chemotherapy failed. Doctors have given him 3 months to live, and say his only chance of survival is through a bone marrow transplant. The Kevin Phelps story has touched the hearts of many, who all responded by making the first registration drive a success. Lorna Brown, the co-ordinator of the appeal said the days turnout was amazing: “It was absolutely spectacular. Black people came forward and did us proud. Around four hundred people turned up and nearly three hundred registered, I just want more people to turn up at the other registration days”. DON’T GET COMPLACENT
 | | Stage 3 - Blood sample taken |
Despite the success of Saturday’s registration, friends and family of Kevin Phelps, are warning the community that they must not get complacent. They say a lot more people from the African and African Caribbean community need to be registered in order to save Kevin’s life and others like him. Beverly De-Gale from the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, says if more people register, the more Kevin and others have a chance of surviving: “The turn out on Saturday was really good, 270 people got registered. We had so many volunteers who helped us for a few hours, or in some cases all day, it was nice to see the community rally together. However, we’ve just started and I don’t want people to get complacent thinking that the response we’ve had so far is enough.
 | | Lorna Brown and Beverly De-Gale |
“The blood samples we took on Saturday get sent off to the Anthony Nolan Trust, who will work as quickly as possible to see if there is a match for Kevin, or any other person waiting for a donor”. Spokes person for The Anthony Nolan Trust We thank all those people who came forward and registered on Saturday. Their support to this campaign may save lives. However we can never have enough donors, there are 7,000 patients worldwide waiting for a life saving match, so this is very much an on going campaign and we urgently need more people to come forward. YOU COULD SAVE KEVIN’S LIFE
 | | Kevin's mum Cynthia Phelps |
You can be a donor as long as you are in generally good health, between 18 – 43 years of age. NO SURGERY INVOLVED. JUST A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST TO REGISTER AS A DONOR ATTEND ANY OF THE FOLLOWING VENUES Saturday 11th February 11a.m – 4pm, at The Drum, The Seminar Room, 144 Potters Lane, Aston Birmingham B6 4UU. Friday 17th February 9pm – 2a.m at The Sapphire Conference and Banqueting Centre, 215 Bradford Street, Digbeth B12 0RG. GET THERE, GET INFORMED, GET TESTED. IT COULD BE YOU! | 
