Sleights family's appeal for blood stem cell donor in Whitby

A Sleights family are searching for a stem cell donor for their son to help in his fight to beat blood cancer.
Pete McCleave pictured with his childrenPete McCleave pictured with his children
Pete McCleave pictured with his children

Sleights residents, June and Mike McCleave's son Peter has Myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer for which there is currently no cure.

Peter, 42, was diagnosed with the disease three years ago, and time is running short for the man who two years ago was given just seven years to live.

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The family is now in a race against time to find a matching stem cell donor, who can provide the transfusion that will extend Peter's life, hopefully long enough for a cure to be found.

Pete McCleave is in need of a stem cell donorPete McCleave is in need of a stem cell donor
Pete McCleave is in need of a stem cell donor

Mum, June, said: "We go to myeloma conferences which give details of all the updated work and drugs that are available. They are very hopeful of a cure and are working on one which involves gene therapy, meaning that good cells will attack the cancer. They reckon that in ten years there will be a cure for this."

Peter has been determined to fight the disease. He set up a campaign called 10,000 donors to encourage as many people as possible to register with DKMS, the charity dedicated to defeating blood cancer. To date 33,402 donors have registered because of this campaign and 12 donor matches have been confirmed, Pete is still waiting.

June and Mike have organised an event at Eskdale School for people to go along and take a cheek swab test to see if they are a compatible match for Peter, or others who have the disease.

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The event takes place of Tuesday, January 14 from 4.00pm to 7,00pm.

Taking the test is simple and pain free, three cotton swabs (like cotton buds) collect saliva from inside the mouth and are sent for testing. It's a process which is over in seconds, with one swab collecting saliva from the left cheek, one from the right cheek and one from around the mouth.

A DKMS representative will be at the session and will take the swabs to the laboratory for analysis, you will then receive a card a few weeks later confirming you are registered as a potential donor.

If you are unabe to attend the session at Eskdale school, you can order a cheek swab test to do at home at: https://www.dkms.org.uk/en/register-nowYou can also follow Pete's story on his Facebook page which may be found here:: https://www.facebook.com/savepete/

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