A worldwide appeal to find a life-saving stem cell donor for a 16-year-old boy battling leukaemia has prompted an extraordinary wave of public support, with thousands of people stepping forward to help.
Community Rallies Behind Teen's Fight
The search for a donor for Leo Sproson from Bromsgrove in the Midlands was launched by his parents, Jenna Elwell and Warren Sproson, in partnership with the blood cancer charity DKMS. Following an initial story in the Mirror last month, more than 1,000 people requested swab kits to provide DNA samples and see if they could be a match.
The momentum continued with a public donation session near Leo's home, where a further 700 people turned up to register, and many more have signed up online since. "The response has been absolutely amazing," said Leo's mother, Jenna, 41. "Bromsgrove is not a big place but they were queueing up to donate."
A Hopeful Christmas at Home
Leo is now recovering at home for Christmas after spending two and a half months in hospital being treated for acute myeloid leukaemia. His family reports he is improving and getting stronger, aided by a feeding tube that has helped him gain weight. This strength is crucial as he prepares for his next round of chemotherapy.
"He is improving and is much better at home," Jenna said. Leo spends his time playing computer games, accompanied by his pet cat Smudge. "I can hear him playing late at night screaming and shouting," Jenna added. "I used to complain about it but I never will again. It is lovely to hear him enjoying himself."
The Ongoing Global Search
Despite the incredible local response, the search for a perfect match continues on a global scale. Doctors believe Germany is the most likely country to provide a match, due to its opt-out system for stem cell donation. This system is similar to the organ donor law enacted in England in 2020, following a campaign by the Mirror.
"The response to Leo's story was certainly the biggest single donor drive we've had for years," said DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes. "We estimate more than 1,000 requested swab kits as a result of the media coverage."
Leo's father, Warren, 46, expressed the family's heartfelt gratitude and hope. "Leo is my whole world. He deserves a second chance at life," he said. "Watching him face this fight with such courage breaks my heart, but it also fills me with pride. He deserves so much more than this, he deserves a future."
The campaign highlights the critical need for stem cell donors. Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK, claiming nearly 13,000 lives annually. At any one time, around 2,000 people in the country need a stem cell transplant.
