Federation member who donated stem cells urges colleagues to join register

14 March 2022

A West Midlands Police Federation member who donated his stem cells last year says he would do it again if he needed to, as he urges colleagues to join the register.

PC Anil Bains says donating his stem cells was “a painless process” and joining the register was easy.

Anil has potentially saved a person’s life after his stem cells were found to be a match with somebody who was urgently waiting for the donation.

“It’s one of those things, I want to help people as much as I can. It’s a great feeling to know you’ve supported someone,” said father-of-two Anil.

“And the way I look at it is, it takes you giving just a few days of your life to give but you could be giving somebody the rest of their life.

“Now I’ve donated, my colleagues keep telling me I don’t just save lives at work anymore.”

Anil joined the register when he was a student officer and a pop-up donation drive was taking place in the local area.

“Joining the register is just as easy as taking a swab from your mouth,” Anil added.

“And to be honest, I forgot about it, I didn’t think I would ever get called back so, when I was contacted, I was shocked.”

All Anil knows about his recipient is that they’re from the UK and they’re female.

“With them being from the UK, it definitely makes this a little closer to home,” he said.

“And I have a family, a wife, you just never know what can happen in your own life – anyone of us could need a donation.”

Anil has shared his story in hope that other Federation members will join the register, following the recent appeal to find a donor for Izzie, the daughter of West Midlands police officer Sally Olsen.

Izzie (13) was diagnosed with two rare blood disorders and is desperately waiting for a life-saving stem cell match to be found.

There are two different ways a person can donate stem cells, either peripheral stem cell donation or bone marrow donation. Izzie needs to receive stem cell donation, which takes around five hours for the donor and is very similar to somebody giving blood.  

Depending on your age, you can register to donate with Anthony Nolan (if you are aged between 16 and 30) or DKMS (if you are over 30 and up until 60, as long as you meet other specific criteria). Both organisations match donors and patients across the world.

If you join the register, you will have a one in 800 chance of being asked to donate.