Charity Awareness

COLERAINE fans are in with a chance of winning a bottle of gin as the Eimear’s Wish charity will be welcomed at The Showgrounds to raise awareness of stem cell donor registry…

Eimear’s Wish is a Belfast based charity and is dedicated to raising stem cell donor awareness.

The charity was set up to honour the memory of Eimear Smyth, who sadly passed away aged just 25 following complications after donor stem cell transplant.

The charity will be handing out tickets to home fans at the turnstiles, with a draw taking place at half time with the winner receiving a bottle of Eimear’s Wish gin.

Every 20 minutes in the UK, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood disorder and for many patients their only chance of survival is Donor Stem Cell transplant. With only a 30% chance of finding a match from a family member, most will be reliant on a complete stranger having joined the Stem Cell Donor register at Anthony Nolan or DKMS.

Every year, 30 or more people from Northern Ireland need to find a non related stem cell donor to have any chance of survival. Fundamentally, the more donors that can get on board, the more hope that can be created.

For information on joining the stem cell donor registry visit HERE

Coleraine FC will be making a donation to the charity and chairman Colin McKendry commented: “As a club, we are delighted to promote Eimear’s Wish and would encourage all Bannsiders to consider becoming a stem cell donor.

“Over the last 18 months we have all seen the importance of health and stem cell donation gives others the opportunity to return to health.

“We had no hesitation in supporting Eimear’s wish and we look forward to welcoming their representatives to The Showgrounds this Saturday.”