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4,855 People Turn Out To See If They Are Stem Cell Match For Boy With Rare Cancer

Rachel Andrews

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| Last updated 

4,855 People Turn Out To See If They Are Stem Cell Match For Boy With Rare Cancer

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

A record-breaking 4,855 people turned out in the rain to get tested to see if they were a match to help save a five-year-old boy fighting a rare cancer.

Potential donors queued up for hours in an attempt to help brave Oscar Saxelby-Lee following a desperate plea from his parents.

The youngster is in a race against time to find a life-saving stem cell donor after he was diagnosed with rare type of cancer. His parents became concerned when severe bruising turned out to be T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL).

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According to the little boy's doctors, he has just three months to find a match.

Almost 5,000 people turned out to be tested. Credit: SWNS
Almost 5,000 people turned out to be tested. Credit: SWNS

Almost 5,000 people queued up to get tested after Pitmaston Primary School, in Worcester, opened its doors at the weekend to help the search for a donor.

"I've been teaching for 20 years and I've never had a child go through something like this," said Oscar's teacher, Sarah Keating. "You hear about children getting cancer and you think 'that's dreadful', then you move on. In this case we haven't moved on, we will fight this."

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Oscar's teaching assistant Laura Senter, 22, said his diagnosis came as a shock to their class.

The little boy's parents launched an appeal after his diagnosis. Credit: SWNS
The little boy's parents launched an appeal after his diagnosis. Credit: SWNS

She added: "I couldn't believe it. I saw him before Christmas and he was his usual happy-go-lucky self.

"It's a nightmare for this to happen. You can't really do anything about it, it's heart-breaking.

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Oscar's parents describe him as a 'true warrior'. Credit: SWNS
Oscar's parents describe him as a 'true warrior'. Credit: SWNS

"If a child falls over and cuts their knee you can put a plaster on it. With something like this you can't just fix it.

"That's why we have gone into 'action mode' to try and find a donor."

Oscar has a rare type of cancer and needs a stem cell donor. Credit: SWNS
Oscar has a rare type of cancer and needs a stem cell donor. Credit: SWNS
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DKMS, the charity that tests the swabs, said its record for the highest number of people to take part in a registration event is 2,200 people.

Volunteers sat at tables and chairs in two of the school's halls over the weekend, handing out swabs and completing donor registration forms.

Oscar was diagnosed with the aggressive form of leukaemia after bruising turned out to be cancer on 28th December last year.

The community have shared their shock over the diagnosis. Credit: SWNS
The community have shared their shock over the diagnosis. Credit: SWNS
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His desperate parents Olivia Saxelby and Jamie Lee, who live in St Johns, Worcester, launched an appeal to find a match after his diagnosis.

They aimed to get as many people as possible to sign up to a blood stem cell donor register as part of their campaign called 'Hand in Hand for Oscar'.

"We felt like we could not see light at the end of the tunnel, but when looking at Oscar's cheeky smile, bravery and determination, we managed to pull our strength together again," said Olivia, 23.

Thousands were swabbed and tested to see if they are a match. Credit: SWNS
Thousands were swabbed and tested to see if they are a match. Credit: SWNS

"From that moment of fear and confusion, we as a family became stronger than ever. Oscar reminded us how to fight again and just how courageous he is."

She continued: "Not once has he shown weakness, nor has he ceased to amaze us throughout the most difficult times and that to us is a true warrior.

"Oscar is a fun, loving, energetic five-year-old boy who deserves to live to the full alongside the other troopers fighting such horrific diseases.

A local school opened its doors so people could get tested. Credit: SWNS
A local school opened its doors so people could get tested. Credit: SWNS

"Not only does he need to enjoy a normal life a child should live, he now needs someone else to save him."

You can find out more about Hand In Hand For Oscar here. Visit DKMS for support and advice on blood cancer and stem cell donors here.

Topics: Life News, News, Real, Health

Rachel Andrews
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