A HEALTHCARE worker at Royal Bournemouth Hospital has donated stem cells in a bid to save the life of an unknown man.

Claire Waugh, pictured, who has always been a regular blood donor, decided to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register after her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago.

The healthcare assistant co-ordinator was later identified as a possible match for a man needing life-saving treatment.

Following rigorous testing Claire was visited by nurses from the blood cancer charity, who gave her three injections every day for three days to stimulate her bone marrow to produce stem cells.

On the fourth day she travelled to King’s College Hospital in London to receive a final set of injections and undergo a stem cell collection in a simple five-hour outpatient procedure, which is similar to giving blood.

Claire said: “I couldn’t move or bend my arm due to the fairly heavy duty needle, but I was looked after really well so in the end the time went very quickly.”

After donating, Claire’s stem cells were rushed to the recipient within the required 72 hours. “A volunteer from Anthony Nolan told me that if he doesn’t survive, there is nothing else on this earth that would have cured him, so this was this person’s last chance,” added Claire.

“When my dad was poorly it made me think that if he needed this kind of help, I would be praying every night that someone would help him.

“By doing this, it meant that I could give that chance to someone else and their family.”

Royal Bournemouth Hospital granted special leave to Claire for the donation with the charity covering all of her and her husband’s travel expenses.

Claire said she would encourage others to do the same: “It is such a unique match that is required that it is almost a chance in a million, but my experience shows it can happen.”

If you are aged 16-30 and in good health, you can join the stem cell register at anthonynolan.org