African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) is an independent UK charity for people with leukaemia and other life-threatening disorders. The ACLT aims to raise awareness on stem cell, blood and organ donation in the UK, with a particular focus on black and mixed race communities.

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust
AbbreviationACLT
Founded1996
TypeCharity
FocusTo raise awareness of stem cell, blood and organ donation within black and ethnic minority communities
Headquarters2A Garnet Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 8RD
Region served
United Kingdom
Websitewww.aclt.org

History

Six-year-old Daniel De-Gale was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1993. His survival required a stem cell transplant; as stem cells have racially-specific characteristics, the donor had to be from the black or mixed race population. With only 550 registered donors, there was a 1 in 250,000 chance of finding a matching donor for Daniel. His parents, Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis, therefore identified the need for an organisation to raise awareness and increase the number of donors, and co-founded the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust in 1996. In 1999, Daniel, 12, became the first black person in the UK to receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor.

By 2008 ACLT had enlisted corporate support and established patrons and trustees, including the first winner of the television programme The Apprentice Tim Campbell[1] and ex-world heavyweight boxing champion, David Haye.[2]

On 8 October 2008, Daniel De-Gale, aged 21, died due to further health complications.[3][4] Since 2009, the 'Daniel De-Gale Blood Donation Month' each October, along with other ACLT recruitment initiatives, has raised the base level of potential donors from 100s to tens of 1,000s. The ACLT continues to raise awareness surrounding stem cell (bone marrow), blood and organ donation to increase the number of ethnic minority people entered on stem cell, blood and organ donor registers.[5]

Awards and achievements

In 2006, the ACLT received a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Special Achievement Award. Beverley and Orin were awarded with OBEs in the 2011 Birthday Honours[6] and 2012 New Year Honours[7] respectively, for services to healthcare.

Awards
OrganisationAwardYearAwarded to
Croydon GuardianCroydon Champion2002Daniel De-Gale[8]
Pride Of BritainSpecial Achievement Award2006Beverley De-Gale & Orin Lewis[9]
Barclays, East Surrey & Sussex News MediaHeart of the Community2009ACLT[10]
OBE2011Beverley De-Gale[6]
Music Video & Screen AwardsWestmore Ezekiel Award2012ACLT[11]
OBE2012Orin Lewis[7]
Royal College of PathologistsOliver Memorial Award 20132013ACLT[12]
National Diversity AwardsCommunity Organisation Award for Race, Religion & Faith2014ACLT[13]
Health Service JournalBME Pioneer2014Beverley De-Gale & Orin Lewis[14]

Orin Lewis is chair of the National BME Cancer Voice,[15] co-chair of the National BAME Transplant Alliance,[16] a member of the National Cancer Equalities Initiative advisory group[17] and a member of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Clinical Reference Group.[18]

Partners

ACLT works with partner organisations including:

  • NHS Blood & Transplant, the authority responsible for supplying blood for transplants
  • Anthony Nolan, the UK's largest bone marrow registry, working with them on the Being African Caribbean campaign.
  • DKMS, the world's largest stem cell donor centre
  • University African Caribbean Societies (ACS)
  • Capital Xtra
  • Metropolitan Police Service

References
  1. "Biography". Tim Campbell. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018. Tim is also a great supporter of the Jack Petchey Foundation, the ACLT...
  2. "ACLT Charity Patron – David 'The Hayemaker' Haye". ACLT. November 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  3. Truman, Peter (9 October 2008). "Leukaemia campaigner Daniel De Gale dies". Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  4. "Donor campaigner's funeral held". BBC News Online. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  5. "Video: Bone marrow and organ donor appeal Leeds". ITV. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. Bingham, John (11 June 2011). "Honours: OBE for campaigning mother driven by son's leukaemia tragedy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  7. "Bone marrow campaigner honoured". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  8. "We Think Croydon's champion gala reception". Western Telegraph. 14 November 2002. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  9. Rudd, Andy (7 October 2014). "Pride of Britain roll of honour: All the winners and all their heroic acts". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  10. "Croydon groups scoop prizes at Heart of the Community awards". The Croydon Advertiser. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  11. "2012 MSVA (Music Video & Screen Awards)". Diva Scribe. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  12. "Oliver Memorial Award Winners 2013 – African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust" (PDF). Royal College of Pathologists. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  13. "African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust: Community Organisation Award for Race, Religion & Faith". National Diversity Awards. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  14. Gbadamosi, Nosmot; Paton, Nic (6 November 2014). "HSJ BME Pioneers 2014". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  15. "National BME Cancer Alliance" (PDF). Irish in Britain. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  16. "ACLT". National BAME Transplant Alliance. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  17. "Cancer Equalities". National Cancer Intelligence Network. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  18. "B04. Specialised Cancer Diagnostics". NHS England. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
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