Margot Martini cause inspiring more bone marrow donors

Senior physiotherapist Hannah Woolridge and doctor Laura Harvey organised 'swabbing' sessions at the Wednesfield site's Heart and Lung Centre along with Margot's aunt Charlotte Hathaway.

In total, 450 hospital workers gave swab samples last week which will add them to the UK stem cell register that could see them matched with a patient needing a bone marrow transplant.

Little Margot died from two rare types of leukaemia in October 2014 but her story inspired thousands and led to the creation of the Team Margot Foundation by her family and friends.

The charity aims to increase the number of people on stem cell registers so those with blood cancer have a greater chance of survival by finding bone marrow donors.

Ms Woolridge, of Tettenhall, said: "Laura and I are friends with Charlotte and we saw it as an opportunity to recruit new donors from the staff at the hospital.

"The response has been brilliant. The hospital has been incredibly supportive and accommodating and we want to thank all the staff that took part."

Mrs Hathaway, whose sister Vicki is Margot's mother, added: "It was a fantastic response and it was really beneficial because a lot of nurses and doctors did not know about swabbing or the stem cell register so it was nice to get them on board.

"My friends Hannah and Laura work at New Cross and really wanted to do something to help and they really pulled it off."

Margot died aged just two after relapsing following a bone marrow transplant following a worldwide campaign to find a donor match.

Her mother Vicki, originally from Essington, and father Yaser spearheaded attempts to find a donor by forming Team Margot.

Following the toddlers' death Team Margot became a charity and the Team Margot Foundation was born.

Funds raised at the New Cross event were donated to the charity Delete Blood Cancer to help process the swab samples collected from hospital staff.

The Team Margot Foundation is campaigning to significantly increase the number of people on stem cell registers.

For more information go to teammargot.com