A full circle of hope
Inspired by her personal experience, Lesley launches DKMS volunteering hub to boost stem cell registration in Herts and Essex
Lesley and Max are a mum and son duo who share a special connection through stem cells! Now, we have an exciting update... Inspired by their journey, Lesley has launched the DKMS Herts and Essex Volunteering Hub to help add more lifesaving stem cell donors to the register.
Their story began in 2019 when Lesley was diagnosed with blood cancer. That same year, she received a stem cell transplant from her sister – an experience that motivated Max to register as a stem cell donor himself. Last year, Max went on to donate his stem cells after being called as a match for a patient in need.
From personal experience to advocacy
Max shares: “I first heard about DKMS through Mum’s transplant journey... For me, I realised how lucky Mum was that she had a sibling as a donor. It felt like it was the least I could do.
“Me being a donor means a lot for Mum – it’s very much a full circle moment and I feel like I’m paying it forward.”
Lesley adds: “Celebrating five years cancer-free - and then marking my five-year transplant anniversary just a few months later - are huge milestones for myself, as well as for anyone who has gone through a blood cancer diagnosis. Given the severity of our illness at diagnosis, the daunting prognosis, and the intense treatment we endure, reaching these milestones feels extraordinary.
“For people who have had a blood cancer diagnosis, or have had a stem cell transplant, we understand just how significant these milestones are — especially when, at the start, we initially start counting our survival in days.
Launching a movement: DKMS Herts and Essex Volunteering Hub
"My own experience reaching these milestones, alongside Max’s donation, inspired me to get involved with DKMS as a volunteer and launch the DKMS Herts and Essex Volunteering Hub. Through our new volunteering hub, we want to raise awareness about the stem cell register and encourage more people to join – because every patient deserves a second chance."
Lesley and Max’s story is a powerful testament to the impact one person can have on another’s life. By registering as a stem cell donor, you too could offer someone a second chance at life. Find out more about the DKMS Herts and Essex Volunteering Hub.
