Lara Fresson and dad Stephen.
Camera IconLara Fresson and dad Stephen. Credit: Supplied/Elle Borgward

Registration vital, no bones about it

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

The Mercedes College teacher said with her dad now officially in remission, most people would think this was a success story, but unfortunately it was not.

‘With dad’s poor genetic make-up he will only have months before the cancer will return,’ Ms Fresson said.

‘Dad has made the decision to undergo a stem cell transplant again ” unfortunately for dad he cannot use his own stem cells and we must look beyond to the worldwide registry to find dad a donor.

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‘With such a small window of time to find this donor I still feel optimistic that a compatible match will be found.

‘This is now why I am asking for your help to promote young Australians to get on the donors list.’

Out of 22 million people in Australia, only 175,000 are on the list. In Australia, eight people every day are diagnosed with leukaemia or a similar blood-related illness.

Of those people, 67 per cent of them who require a bone marrow transplant will need to look on the Australian or global registry.

Ms Fresson said the statistics were confronting.

‘We are in desperate need of people to join the Australian bone marrow register.

‘Unfortunately they will only take on people who are aged between 18 and 45.

‘I do know that this rules out some, but I’m sure that somewhere in people’s family or circle of friends they will know people who are eligible to donate.’

Ms Fresson will host a cocktail party in October to raise funds for the Ride to Conquer Cancer that she will be completing on October 18 and 19.

Visit pr14.conquercancer. org.au/site/TR/Events/Perth2014?px=14511 to donate.