'Finding that donor would mean everything'

20 September 2025

Emma PetrieEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Dan Chapman was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in May

DKMS Dan is posing for a holiday snap. He grins for the camera and is wearing a white t-shirt with a cross body bag, and a baseball cap worn backwards. — Dan Chapman was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in May

A man who has a life-threatening blood disorder is on the search for a stem cell donor who could save his life.

Dan Chapman, 31, from Holbeach was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in May and needs a stem cell transplant but none of his family are a match.

His friends and family are holding a series of events across Lincolnshire on Saturday where people can join the stem cell donor register.

Mr Chapman said: "Finding that person would mean everything".

Aplastic aneamia prevents bone marrow from producing enough blood cells.

A stem cell transplant replaces the destroyed blood stem cells with healthy ones from a matching donor.

According to blood cancer charity DKMS, only one in three patients find a stem cell match within their family.

The charity said there are 2,000 people in the UK waiting for a match at any one time, including Dan.

Mr Chapman and DKMS have organised 'Dan's Day of Donation' where people are invited to provide a cheek swab and join the stem cell donor register.

DKMS Mr Chapman is running at an event for the Royal Marsden cancer charity (and wears a t-shirt with the slogan on). He wears a baseball cap and glasses and smiles at the camera. — Mr Chapman said he was fit and healthy before his diagnosis and had just run his first half marathon

According to the charity, if donors are matched to a patient, then donation can usually be completed through a simple outpatient procedure.

Mr Chapman said: "It takes a few hours, you might need a couple of days off work, but it could save someone's life, maybe even mine."

Currently, Mr Chapman is dependant on blood transfusions as part of his treatment and suffers from debilitating fatigue.

He said: "There could be a total stranger, someone I've never met, who has the key to giving me my life back in their genetics.

"Finding that person would mean everything."

Events are taking place on Saturday from 10:00-16:00 BST at Pippa's Pantry in Sutton Bridge, Unicorns and Riderz Bar and Grill in Long Sutton, Shoestring Cafe in Holbeach and the Marketplace in Spalding.

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