Cancer teen helps others find stem cell donors

A teenage cancer patient who inspired hundreds of people to join the stem cell register is one of the finalists for a BBC Make a Difference young hero award.

Leo Sproson, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, received a transplant to treat his leukaemia earlier this year, and by raising awareness of the need for donors, five other people also found matches.

"That's five peoples lives I could have saved," said the 17-year old. "It just kind of feels like what I went through, might be slightly worth it."

His mother, Jenna Elwell, said she "couldn't be anymore proud" of her son for being so "open and brave" and sharing his story to help others.

His father, Warren Sproson, said his cancer diagnosis was the "most horrendous news" but he had handled it like a "hero".

Throughout his gruelling chemotherapy treatment and long hospital stays "he never moaned, never complained, he just got on with it".

Leo was diagnosed with a liver disease when he was 12 but life was getting back to normal before he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in September.

More than 700 people signed up to be potential donors for him after a mass drive in his hometown last year, organised by his family and the blood cancer charity DKMS.

Doctors told the teenager that, without a stem cell transplant, there was a 90% chance of the aggressive blood cancer coming back.

A match was found in the UK and the treatment was carried out at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, in February.

The teenager said "the fact that this person donated their cells to me, they've completely saved my life".

His mother said they hoped to one day meet his donor in person: "There will never be enough thanks in the world to that one donor that saved our boy's life.

"How can you ever thank somebody enough for that?"

His family are now passionate about raising awareness of the need for stem cell donors.

About 2,000 people in the UK are waiting for a match but only 7% of people are signed up to the stem cell register, according to DKMS.

Leo allowed his story to be shared through the Facebook page Leo's Army, in a bid to get other people to join the register.

Since the donor drive in Bromsgrove last year, many more have registered for online kits.

His father added: "We thought it was important to let people know that it's not a big drill in the hip anymore, it's like donating blood."

Leo's local MP has publicly championed him, raising his story in the House of Commons twice.

Bradley Thomas announced the news that he was cancer free and a nominee for BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester's Make a Difference awards in Parliament in July.

In response, the leader of the House, Sir Alan Campbell, sent his best wishes to the teenager, describing it as a "remarkable story".

The winners of the BBC awards will be announced at a special ceremony next month.

His mother said: "He's made so much difference, not many people can say they've helped save five people's lives."