Fans Urged To 'Register For Ronnie' And Join Stem Cell Donor List Ahead Of Derby

The parents of a young Evertonian diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder a week before his first birthday are urging people to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby to help those looking for their lifesaving match.

Ronnie, now one, had just started crawling when his mother, Laura, noticed the youngster was bruising easily.

After doctors ruled out numerous potential conditions, including leukaemia, the family were told Ronnie has aplastic anaemia, a rare condition where the bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for the body to function normally.

It is fatal if left untreated and a stem cell transplant is required to cure the disease and provide the best chance of long-term survival.

Everton fans aged 16-30 attending this Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 2pm BST) will be able to make the potentially life-saving decision to ‘register4ronnie’ and join the national stem cell donor list.

Volunteers from Anthony Nolan and the Blues Against Blood Cancer fan group will be based in the Budweiser Plaza, where supporters will be able to join on the spot by taking a simple swab test, or find out more about how to register online and have a swab kit sent to their homes.

“Ronnie had only just started crawling, then three days later when I got him up, he had blood coming from his nose, blisters in his mouth, and red dots on his body,” explained Laura.

“Nothing prepares you for the words, we suspect this may be leukaemia… the room went quiet, our hearts were pounding, and then instantly our minds were jumping to the worst-case scenario and thinking how is my 11-month-old meant to battle such a deadly disease at such a young age.”

The family were initially relieved when further tests revealed Ronnie did not have leukaemia. But doctors struggled to conduct their tests as his bone marrow was so sparse and his parents were told his bone marrow was at five per cent with very few cells, when a baby his age should be at 100 per cent. 

Brave Ronnie remains “happy and smiling” despite his eventual diagnosis and now needing to undergo regular infusions and injections to stimulate his bone marrow production. 

His family hope people will join the register to help children like Ronnie, and others who are in vital need of a viable stem cell donor.

“Now we have a diagnosis we have to do something to help,” said Laura. “There are so many other kids out there who need a match, we are putting it out there for Ronnie - and to educate people about the lifesaving potential of stem cell transplants.

“Being from Merseyside, we all stick together from here. We’re sharing Ronnie’s story because we want people to get signed up to become a donor. If a match comes up for him then great, but a match for someone else, that’s amazing as well.”

Ronnie’s grandad Steve, Laura’s father, travelled home and away following Everton in the 1970s and early 1980s. Pets in the family home during Laura’s childhood included rabbits Danka, Rooney and Radzinski.

That passion for the Football Club has now been passed down through his parents to Ronnie. On his toughest days going through hospital appointments, transfusions or surgeries, his Everton teddy and his kits always go with him.

“Blue blood has run through the family for generations – his two great grandads were also Blues,” explained Laura. “Sadly, it’s a legacy he never got the chance to share with them, but one that lives on through him.

“An Everton kit was the very first outfit we bought after telling people we were expecting Ronnie and he was proudly wearing it the day after he was born. 

“We always tell people that nursery rhymes don’t quite do it for Ronnie – but 'Grand Old Team' gets smiles and laughs every single time! Being an Evertonian isn’t about a football kit that he wears, it’s already part of who he is.”

Supporters should look out for Anthony Nolan volunteers in the Budweiser Plaza ahead of Sunday’s match if they wish to take a swab test and join the register on the day. Supporters can also start the process of joining the register online by visiting anthonynolan.org/register4ronnie

Rowena Bentley, Head of Programme and Community Recruitment at Anthony Nolan, said: “It’s heartbreaking that baby Ronnie and his family are going through this, and we are doing our best to support them.

“At Anthony Nolan we give hope to families affected by blood cancers and disorders, but we can’t do it without the lifesavers that sign up to our register.  

“If you are aged 16-30, please sign up to the Anthony Nolan register at Sunday’s match or online. You could be the match that someone like baby Ronnie needs to survive.”

If you’re unable to join the register, please consider donating to support Anthony Nolan’s vital work at anthonynolan.org.