African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) is a UK-based charity focused on increasing the number of Black and mixed race people on the bone marrow and blood donor registers. The ACLT was founded in 1996 by Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis after their son, Daniel De-Gale, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and struggled to find a matching bone marrow donor due to the lack of Black and mixed race donors.

History

The ACLT was established in response to a critical need for bone marrow donors within the Black and mixed race communities. The founders' personal experience with their son's leukemia diagnosis highlighted the disparities in donor availability for patients of African and Caribbean descent. This led to the creation of the ACLT to address these disparities and improve the chances of finding matching donors for Black and mixed race patients in need of bone marrow transplants.

Mission

The mission of the ACLT is to raise awareness about the importance of becoming a bone marrow, blood, and organ donor, particularly within the Black and mixed race communities. The charity works to educate the public on the process of donation and the impact it can have on saving lives. The ACLT also provides support to families affected by leukemia and other blood-related disorders.

Activities

The ACLT organizes various activities to achieve its mission, including:

• Educational workshops and seminars
• Bone marrow, blood, and organ donation drives
• Support services for patients and their families
• Campaigns to increase donor registration

Through these activities, the ACLT aims to increase the number of registered donors, thereby improving the chances of finding matching donors for patients in need.

Impact

Since its inception, the ACLT has significantly increased the number of Black and mixed race individuals on the bone marrow and blood donor registers. The charity's efforts have not only raised awareness about the importance of donation but have also directly contributed to saving lives by facilitating matches between donors and patients.

Challenges

Despite its successes, the ACLT faces ongoing challenges, including:

• Overcoming myths and misconceptions about bone marrow and organ donation within the Black and mixed race communities
• Ensuring a continuous increase in donor registrations to meet the growing need for transplants
• Securing funding to support its activities and expand its reach

See Also

• Leukemia
• Bone marrow transplant
• Blood donation
• Organ donation