Grateful James is living proof

PAKENHAM father and son Darren and James English have paid tribute to the Inner Wheel Australia (IWA) Cord Blood Appeal.

They were guests at a luncheon presentation of a $65,000 cord blood research grant to Dr Ngaire Elwood of the Childrens Cancer Centre at Royal Childrens Hospital.

Inner Wheel clubs across Australia made the annual presentation as a result of fundraising for the national cord blood project.

Cord blood is taken from umbilical cords immediately after births and has become a vital component in cancer treatment research, particularly leukaemia in children.

James, 16, who spoke well in front of a large audience said he was diagnosed with Aplastic anaemia when he was aged four.

He said his bone marrow did not produce enough new blood cells.

He said he had a bone marrow transplant, but his treatment was not working.

He said he received umbilical cord blood and his system began to restore itself.

I am very grateful for the support of my doctors, my family and the ongoing research into cord blood so that we can treat diseases like the one I had, James said.

IWA Cord Blood Project national coordinator Anne McGill, of Berwick said IWA members were asking the community to support them in their efforts to raise money for their cord blood research.

Cord blood transplants help in the fight against leukaemia, juvenile diabetes, heart disease and the repair of muscle tissue, she said.

Please look for the IW members in your communities and buy a bracelet, badge, pen, bookmark or football on our special day Friday, 28 April.