Ulverston girl Alice Pyne inspired thousands to join bone marrow register
Last updated at 10:46, Tuesday, 15 January 2013
MILLIONS of TV viewers watched in awe as brave Alice Pyne received her Pride of Britain award from Robbie Williams.
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The teary-eyed pop star told Alice “You’re an absolute inspiration, a very special human being”, as he presented her with the Teenager of Courage accolade in October.
Alice did not give up when she found out her cancer was terminal – instead she created her bucket list of everything she would like to do before she died. At the top of the list was getting people to sign up to the Bone Marrow Donor Register, and she inspired more than 40,000 people to do that.
Then there was an amazing response on the evening Pride of Britain was screened, with more than 1,300 people joining the Anthony Nolan register that night.
The charity helps save the lives of blood cancer patients in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant by matching them with potential bone marrow donors.
Henny Braund, Anthony Nolan’s chief executive, said: “Everyone at Anthony Nolan is so sorry to hear that Alice has passed away. She was a phenomenal young woman who repeatedly put her own problems aside to help others in need. She achieved so much during her short life, but her real legacy lies in the tens of thousands of people who have joined bone marrow registers all round the world – people who will help us to cure blood cancer for good.
“When we decided to change our joining policy to allow people to sign up to the register from the age of 16, we took many factors into account.
“It would have been impossible to ignore the enthusiasm that Alice inspired in young people, an enthusiasm which has translated into thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds joining the register and taking their place in history as the world’s youngest bone marrow donors.
“There are no real words to describe Alice. Every time she shared her story, more people listened and responded by signing up to bone marrow registers worldwide.
“When she won the Teenager of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain ceremony, 1,336 people joined the Anthony Nolan register that evening – our normal daily application rate is just 50.”
First published at 16:09, Monday, 14 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
what an inspirational girl with exceptional drive and purpose rip angel
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Alice you where a remarkable young lady while here on earth.
Fly high special angel continue your inspirational work up there in heaven and walk along side and guide your wonderful family, they are truly remarkable people.
God bless you all.
Gloria Jones
Posted by Gloria Jones on 30 January 2013 at 20:10