Second donor drive being held to find livesaving match for 'positive and selfless' 21-year-old Telford man

In December last year, the non-profit Race Against Blood Cancer launched an appeal to help find a stem cell match for a 21-year-old from Telford who is battling cancer. 

Marshall Davies, from Dawley, was diagnosed in April 2023 with folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, a rare and potentially aggressive type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This has now progressed to large cell transformation. 

Sadly, there is no current match on the stem cell register for Marshall, and Race Against Blood Cancer is pulling out all the stops to find him a donor.

Since the appeal was launched online, more than 400 people have signed up to the stem cell register online. 

The first in-person donor drive took place at Southwater in Telford town centre in late December and saw 67 people sign up.

"It was great how the Telford community pulled together," said Race Against Blood Cancer's engagement manager, Gemma.

"Obviously, there is more work to be done, so we are arranging more donor drives in Telford, around Shropshire and the West Midlands."

The second drive to find Marshall his potentially life-saving match will be held in Oakengates next week.

The event will run from 11.30am to 4.30pm on Tuesday, January 21 at The Wakes. 

For those who can't attend, Marshall's family and friends are also urging people to join the stem cell register online.

Marshall's sister, Leah Anne, previously said the young man had remained "positive and selfless" throughout his fight with the disease.

She added: "I only have one little brother and I’m hopeful that he will stick around for the long run. We hope to find a match through the support of our friends, family and community.”

Those aged 16 to 30 can sign up via Anthony Nolan at anthonynolan.org/rabc while those aged between 31 and 55 can sign up at raceagainstbloodcancer.com/join.