Pontypool RFC will be holding a swabbing event, with blood cancer charity DKMS, for full-back Ethan Davies.
The event will take place on Saturday 10th September and will give people the opportunity to join the blood stem cell register and to donate to DKMS.
Ethan, 28, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and urgently needs to find a matching blood stem cell donor. Ethan has started his first round of intensive chemotherapy and he will need further chemotherapy and a blood stem cell transplant from a donor later this year.
Ben Jeffreys, Chief Executive Officer, Pontypool RFC said: “Everybody at Pontypool RFC is hugely grateful for the incredible demonstration of support and willingness displayed by all those who have played their part in sharing Ethan’s story and registering to become a potential donor.
“Whilst the initial public response has been incredibly positive and many people have registered to become a potential donor, we will not rest until a match is found for Ethan.
“We are hugely thankful for what the team at DKMS have done in mobilising rapidly to set up a testing session and we would encourage anybody who meets the criteria to attend the match and register to become a potential donor.
“Ethan and his family are fantastic people and we continue to hope that Ethan’s treatment will be successful and that a donor can be urgently found.
“Our thoughts remain with Ethan and his family and we will continue to do everything we can as a club and a community to offer as much support as possible during this very difficult time.”
Reshna Radiven, Head of Communications and Engagement at DKMS, said: “We were saddened by Ethan’s news and that’s why we need as many people to join the register as possible. The more people we have on the Register, the more chance that there’s a donor who could be a potential lifesaver for Ethan or someone with blood cancer.
If you are aged 17-55 and in good general health, you’ve got it in you, to be a potential lifesaver for someone with blood cancer. Start by registering online for your home swab kit at www.dkms.org.uk/register-now.
You can support also DKMS in other ways by fundraising and volunteering. Visit www.dkms.org.uk to find out more.
