Police and Crime Commissioner's Facebook appeal to find a bone marrow donor for Sleaford soldier goes viral

Myles Brown, 27, is being treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at a hospital in West Germany while he awaits a stem cell transplant.

But before the transplant can happen he needs a donor with blood cell tissue match.

His moving story was posted on Facebook by his sister Sophie and seen by Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.

He wrote an open letter on Facebook asking as many people as possible to sign up to Antony Nolan’s donor register.

His message said: “It struck me that, in a world where hatred and terror is extinguishing innocent life all too often, Myles’ story shows us we all have the potential to offer the gift of life to another human. It’s an amazing thought.”

He then shared that appeal across his PCC social networks and the story has gone viral. Since Mr Jones posted his letter the story has been seen by more than 200,000 people across Twitter and Facebook alone – with many posters saying they will register for the donors list.

Myles, who has served in the army for nearly a decade including a tour in Afghanistan, is stationed in Paderborn, where he lives with his fiancé Vivien and 18-month-old daughter Lilian.

He was diagnosed with the rare form of leukaemia in April this year. Since then he has undergone radiotherapy on his brain and endured regular lumber punctures.

To get the stem cell treatment he needs Myles needs a tissue match from someone on the donor register. The Anthony Nolan register is looking for people aged between 16 and 30. Young men are particularly needed because they produce more stem cells than women.

All that is required to join the register and be tested is to give a quick saliva sample via a spit kit.

Then, whenever a patient with blood cancer or a blood disorder needs a lifesaving stem cell transplant, the charity searches the register, looking for someone who’s a genetic match for that patient.

Alternatively people over the age of 30 can register with charity DKMS, a global donor organization started in Germany in 1991.

Mr Jones said he was astonished, but delighted, that the appeal had gained momentum and would keep promoting it until Myles found the match he needed to save his life.

“It’s utterly amazing that with a simple cheek swab or a spit into a cup that you could end up saving another human being’s life,” he said.

“Myles has risked his life to protect our nation and it is moving to watch as his home county steps up to do everything they can to save his.

“Someone out there is a match for Myles and I hope telling his story encourages that one person to step forward.”

Myles’ mum Vicky, 51, who lives in Sleaford and works at the Sleaford Medical Practice, said his whole family was deeply moved by the support they were receiving from the community and the number of people who have pledged to apply to be a donor.

“It’s amazing the message has travelled so far so fast. We have friends in family in both South Africa and Canada and they have seen the story on social media.

“Myles has seen it too and is touched by the personal support and good will that he has received. Now we need to prey that he finds a match as soon as possible.”

To register go to www.anthonynolan.org or www.dkms.org.uk/en