Cancer charity receives record £619,000 gift

A cancer charity has received £619,000 in funding from a philanthropic organisation.

The money, from the Jack Petchey Foundation, is the largest single donation that the Anthony Nolan Trust has ever had.

The charity helps to save the lives of patients with blood cancer who need a stem cell, or bone marrow transplant and the funding will go towards recruiting 11,000 people to its register.

Trudy Kilcullen, chief operating officer at the foundation, started by businessman Jack Petchey CBE, said: "We want young people to play a full part in society, and signing up to donate their blood stem cells is one of the greatest things they can do, as they could help save somebody's life."

She added there was a shortage of young donors, especially young men and those from different ethnic backgrounds.

Henny Braund, Anthony Nolan's chief executive, said: "We're very excited about the grant, and are extremely grateful that the Foundation has decided to support us with such a generous gift."

There are more than 425,000 people on the Anthony Nolan register.