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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
How the latest Omaze Cheshire house draw could help thousands benefit from lifesaving stem cell transplants
Sofia Gardella's favourite pastimes are swimming, riding her bike and spending time with her friends. Yet Sofia, 11, wouldn't be enjoying these simple pleasures today had it not been for a lifesaving stem cell transplant nine years ago. Her parents, Claire and Fabio, were devastated to learn their baby daughter had a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. A midwife spotted tiny marks on baby Sofia's arms and legs, 'a bit like birthmarks, but purpley', says Claire, 43, an occupational therapist, who lives in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, with Fabio, also 43, who works in sales, and their daughters, Sofia, and Sienna, 15. Blood tests revealed the marks on her skin were caused by an extremely low level of platelets (meaning blood cannot clot properly) – and this was caused by a condition called congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT), which meant her body produced too few bone marrow cells needed to make platelets. CAMT can be life-threatening because patients are at risk of bleeding spontaneously, even from a minor knock. The condition can also progress to affect other types of blood cells, including the white blood cells needed to fight off infections – meaning even 'mild' illnesses can become lethal. 'It was a total shock particularly as Sofia didn't look poorly at all,' says Claire. Sofia needed urgent chemotherapy to wipe out her faulty bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the bones that plays a crucial role in producing blood cells), followed by a stem cell transplant from a donor to encourage the growth of healthy bone marrow. Without this treatment, Sofia's bone marrow would stop functioning by the time she was five – which could be fatal. 'We were told that there was a 90 per cent chance of treatment being successful – but we were very worried that they wouldn't be able to find a donor,' says Claire. When family members were found not to be a sufficiently good tissue match, doctors scoured national and international registers to find another suitable donor. It was the stem cell charity Anthony Nolan that struck proverbial gold, finding a match in Germany: a woman in her 40s. But the family had to wait another 'agonising' year until doctors deemed Sofia ready for a stem cell transplant at the age of two. 'The next year was full of anxiety,' says Claire. 'Sofia was being closely monitored and we didn't know if she would even survive the transplant.' Claire recalls her excitement when the transplant day arrived in 2016, and she watched the courier arrive at hospital with the donated stem cells for Sofia. 'I saw the courier pull up with the box,' she says. 'When the nurse brought the box into Sofia's room and opened it up, there was what looked like a bag of blood inside – we told Sofia it was a bag of magic cells.' For Sofia the treatment has been transformative. But others aren't so lucky – for while demand for stem cell donations is rocketing, supply is not keeping up. Tragically, some people die waiting – and not just because of a lack of suitable donors. In fact, 2.3 million people are on the UK registry to be stem cell donors. The problem is that, once a match is identified, a donor would be invited to attend a hospital or independent centre with specialist equipment to take the donation – but there aren't enough of these to keep up with demand. Only one in five donors on the UK registry were able to donate on the date requested in 2022-23 because of capacity issues, according to data collected by Anthony Nolan. 'Sometimes, a collection centre may not be able to offer a slot for two or three months as they are already fully booked,' says Dr Lilian Hook, director of cell, apheresis and gene therapies at NHS Blood and Transplant. Such a wait may be catastrophic for the patient who needs the transplant. 'Often, these are very sick people – and if they have to wait a couple of months more they may become too ill to undergo a transplant,' says Dr Hook. 'Unfortunately, patients sometimes deteriorate and may even die while waiting for a stem cell transplant,' adds Dr Chloe Anthias, a haematologist and stem cell transplant consultant at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. 'All collection centres are at capacity and we badly need more slots. It's almost at crisis point.' The lack of facilities, coupled with a need for young donors with high-quality stem cells, means 70 per cent of stem cell transplants in the UK involve imported cells. 'Many come from Germany, where there is an extensive stem cell register and where donors often have a good tissue match to UK patients,' says Dr Hook. But this is complicated to organise and 'expensive', she says. Demand for stem cell transplants has risen by a third in ten years – from around 3,800 in 2013 to just under 5,000 in 2023 (the last year for which figures are available). This is partly because of improvements meaning the procedure is now suitable for more patients, but also because the use of stem cells has been vastly extended. Traditionally, stem cell transplants were used to treat blood cancers, such as leukaemia and myeloma. But they are now also used for blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia (where abnormally shaped red blood cells form that may block blood vessels) and rarer conditions, such as CAMT for which previously there were few treatments, says Dr Anthias. Increasingly, stem cells are being modified, too, for cancer and gene therapies. One such treatment, CAR T-cell therapy, involves harvesting and reprogramming a patient's own blood cells to fight certain blood cancers. 'All of these treatments require cell collection services, however,' says Dr Anthias, who is a donor consultant at Anthony Nolan. Giving stem cells is not as straightforward as giving blood. The donor receives injections of a hormone to stimulate the release of stem cells into the blood. Blood is then drawn from one arm using a special machine, which separates and collects the stem cells – and returns the rest of the blood to the other arm. In a minority of cases, stem cells are taken from bone marrow in a procedure that requires a general anaesthetic. There's no delay in getting them to the patient, says Dr Hook. 'The main problem lies with finding a suitable donor and collecting the cells.' But the situation looks set to improve, thanks to the new Anthony Nolan Cell Collection Centre, which opens this summer in Nottingham. The centre, which will benefit from funds raised by the ongoing Omaze Cheshire house draw, is the first in the UK dedicated entirely to cell collection for patients needing stem cell transplants and gene therapies. Omaze sells tickets for a draw to win a glamorous house somewhere around the country – previous draws have raised funds for other health charities. The new Anthony Nolan Cell Collection Centre, run in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, aims to provide 1,300 new cell collection slots a year, and will also conduct research into new cell therapies. The exact amount received by the centre will depend on how much the draw raises, but Anthony Nolan is guaranteed to receive at least £1 million – enough to keep the centre running for six months. Meanwhile, NHS Blood and Transplant is also expanding its cell collection capacity and is trying to recruit more donors. Men under 30 are particularly sought as donors because men, generally being bigger, produce more stem cells – and the younger the donor, the more effective they are. Donors from mixed and minority ethnic backgrounds are also needed because it can be harder to find a tissue match for them, says Dr Hook. Stem cell transplants are not without risks. Sofia developed graft-versus-host disease, where the donated cells attack a patient's own cells, after her first transplant in 2016. She needed steroids to combat it, which caused fluid to build in her brain, affecting her memory. She needed a second stem cell transplant in 2018 because her platelet levels began to drop again. 'At one stage I wondered if she would ever get better,' says Claire. But now Sofia's platelet levels are normal. She needs extra help at school and takes penicillin to protect her from infections – but the family counts their blessings. 'I am just happy I can finally do normal things,' says Sofia. Claire adds: 'We are so grateful for Sofia's transplant – it's wonderful to know that a new centre may help so many patients and families like ours.' Entries for the Omaze draw in Cheshire close at midnight on July 27. To enter visit The medical research funded by prize draws Omaze prize draws have already generated millions of pounds in funding for key health charities... ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH UK: Funding research into new drugs is how the charity said it plans to spend the £4 million received from the Omaze draw for a four-bedroom house in Perthshire, Scotland, in February. With views over Loch Rannoch, the house has woodland, a tennis court and a private jetty. It's the third time that Alzheimer's Research UK had benefited from a draw. GUIDE DOGS: The draw for a five-bedroom Cotswold stone house with guest cottage and pool on the outskirts of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, raised £4.2 million for Guide Dogs by the time it closed in May. Andrew Lennox, CEO at Guide Dogs, said the money meant it can 'continue to provide services that empower people with sight loss to live the life they choose'. MND Association: The charity said the £4.1 million it received earlier this month from the draw for a beachside home in Sussex would be used to improve access to care, fund research and campaign for those with motor neurone disease – a progressive disease that affects the nerves that control movement. Currently, there is no cure. ANTHONY NOLAN: The charity says the £4 million likely to be generated from the ongoing draw (it closes on July 27) for a four-bedroom house in Cheshire's exclusive Alderley Edge area will help fund its stem cell collection centre to store healthy donated stem cells that could cure people with blood cancer and other disorders.
Axios
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Des Moines is getting its first romance bookstore
Step aside, Fabio — romance novels are in a modern renaissance, and a new bookstore in Des Moines is celebrating that. Why it matters: Shelf Love DSM will give space to women and queer readers to embrace an often stigmatized genre, says owner Sarah Gardner-Bergan. State of play: Shelf Love is opening July 26 with raffle giveaways and local author talks. Expect pink aesthetics, comfy furniture and shelves full of romance series. How it started: Like many people, Gardner-Bergan enjoyed reading as a kid but fell out of the habit as she got older. As an adult, diving into romance books (specifically, " From Blood and Ash") helped give her an entertaining way to get back into it — as well as listening to more audiobooks. Inspired by her love of reading, Gardner-Bergan began selling book box subscriptions and grew into hosting romance book conventions. And after visiting a romance bookshop in Los Angeles, she was inspired to start one here. What they're saying: Romance novels have historically been stigmatized as "trashy" or "silly," but the rise of BookTok and Bookstagram has helped create an online community that is now gathering in person to chat about their favorite characters. Modern romance books are covering serious issues in a more comfortable way and are including more diverse characters, including queer relationships and people of color, Gardner-Bergan says. She wants to embrace the things that women like to do and ignore the misogyny that can be directed toward them. Zoom out: Gardner-Bergan hopes to add to the Dogtown neighborhood, especially since Nos Books, a bookstore dedicated to diverse stories, is also nearby. Her goal is to host author signings and different activities, like book bedazzling and bookmark decorating. The big picture: Romance bookstores are popping off nationally, including HEA Book Boutique in Marion.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
João Pedro doesn't celebrate goals for Chelsea, saying former team `gave everything to me'
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio (1) can't stop a goal by Chelsea's João Pedro during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Chelsea's Joao Pedro leaves the field after the first half during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Chelsea's Joao Pedro, left, and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrate after Pedro scored a goal against Fluminense during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Chelsea's Joao Pedro (20) is congratulated by Enzo Fernandez after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio (1) can't stop a goal by Chelsea's João Pedro during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Chelsea's Joao Pedro leaves the field after the first half during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Chelsea's Joao Pedro, left, and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrate after Pedro scored a goal against Fluminense during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Chelsea's Joao Pedro (20) is congratulated by Enzo Fernandez after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — João Pedro had just scored on a 20-yard curling shot in his first start for Chelsea, putting his team ahead in a Club World Cup semifinal less than a week after signing with the London power. He took two steps to start to celebrate and then he stopped. He clasped his hands. Advertisement He muted his joy. He would not exhibit excessive exuberance against the team that developed him from a boy into a professional. 'When I was young, I didn't have nothing. They gave everything to me,' he said after his two goals lifted Chelsea over Fluminense 2-0 on Tuesday and into the Club World Cup final against Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. João Pedro scored in the 18th and 56th minutes, both with his right foot, the first from just outside the penalty area and the second when he cut inside about 15 yards from goal. At 23, he is with a major club after starting in the Fluminense academy when he was 10 or 11, moving to Watford at 18 and then to Brighton when he was 21. He debuted with Brazil's national team in November 2023, but like many of his nation's top stars could make far greater money outside his country. Advertisement 'It doesn't make sense for Brazil to try to compete with European clubs in terms of finances,' Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho said through a translator. 'Brazilian clubs trade players and sell them to Europe so they can survive, and that's been true even since I was a player.' Top English clubs benefit from the Premier League's worldwide popularity and broadcast rights fees, and they join with their Spanish, German, Italian and French counterparts in the financial success of deep Champions League runs. João Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton on July 2, signing with a six-time English titlist and two-time Champions League winner, a club one victory from its second world championship. In the glow of his success, he wasn't going to forget where he came from. 'They showed me to the world," he said. "If I'm here, it's because they believed in me, so I'm very grateful.' Advertisement Chelsea signed him last Wednesday after he scored 19 goals in 58 Premier League matches for Brighton, and he debuted two days later as a 54th-minute substitute in the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Palmeiras. Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton's former manager and now Marseille's coach, had recommended João Pedro to Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. 'The reason why we brought him is because this season we faced many teams with low block(s) and his quality is very good against this kind of team," Maresca said. Chelsea striker Liam Delap was suspended for yellow-card accumulation, and Maresca inserted João Pedro. While most of Chelsea's roster has been training and playing almost continuously since last summer, João Pedro had not appeared in a game since April 19, a benefit in MetLife Stadium's stifling heat and humidity. Advertisement 'He was on holiday,' Maresca said, 'so probably is a bit more fresh compared to the rest.' ___ AP soccer: and refused to celebrate either goal in a sign of respect for his former club. He joined Chelsea from Brighton on July 2. His first goal developed after German Cano lost the ball to him and he poked it to Pedro Neto. His teammate dribbled down a flank and crossed. The attempted clearance went directly to João Pedro, who curled a 20-yard shot inside the far post. João Pedro took two steps to start to celebrate, then stopped and clasped his hands. Chelsea doubled the lead after Facundo Bernal lost the ball just outside the Blues' penalty area to Pedro Neto, who poked the ball to Cole Palmer. He beat three challenges and dished off to Enzo Fernández, who side-footed a pass to João Pedro. He cut around Ignácio and scored off the underside of the crossbar. ___ AP soccer:
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
19 forwards & £600m later... is Joao Pedro the frontman Chelsea need?
Chelsea aren't exactly short of riches in the forward department, but Joao Pedro may have just given himself a head start over his new attacking colleagues before Sunday's Club World Cup Brazilian, who joined Chelsea from Brighton last week, is one of 19 forwards to have signed for the Blues under their American owners, who have now spent £600m on attacking players since assuming control of the club in making his debut in the Club World Cup quarter-final win over Palmeiras on Saturday, the frontman was handed his first start in the last-four tie against Fluminense – his boyhood side – and announced his arrival with two stunning strikes either side of 18 minutes gone, the Brazilian collected a half-cleared cross on the corner of the penalty area, took one touch to steady himself and arrowed a stunning drive past 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio and into the far corner to open the second was just as aesthetically pleasing as he ran onto Enzo Fernandez's throughball from near the halfway line, darted into the box and slammed a right-footed shot into the net via the crossbar 11 minutes into the second Chelsea set to receive £21.9m for reaching the final – where they will play either Real Madrid or Paris St-Germain – Joao Pedro's goalscoring exploits on Tuesday mean he has already repaid over a third of his transfer fee."It was a dream," he told DAZN afterwards. "I don't think it could have gone any better."I'm happy to have scored my first goals. [The Club World Cup] would be my first title as well. I only came here a week ago, and now I'm going to play the final."Have Chelsea finally found the answer to their centre-forward woes? 'A great all-round performance' Enzo Maresca's side have wasted little time in bolstering their attacking options this summer, bringing in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City's Liam Delap and Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian from Palmeiras – as well as Joao former Brighton striker, who scored 30 goals in 70 games for the Seagulls after joining from Watford in 2023, has been signed to provide competition for the number nine and 10 he staked his claim for a regular place in Maresca's team with a superb full debut at New Jersey's MetLife Brazilian found the net with two of his three attempts – and with both his efforts on target. Only Christopher Nkunku registered as many shots, while no other Blues player had as many shots on forward also gave the Blues an attacking focal point, competing in nine duels and four aerial duels before being replaced by Nicolas Jackson on the hour Nkunku and Moises Caicedo – both of whom were on the pitch a lot longer – registered more duels overall, with only Marc Cucurella and Trevoh Chalobah taking part in as many aerial tussles."It's not just the goals," said ex-Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale on DAZN. "It's the link-up play, it's the passing, it's the vision. It was a great all-round performance."This is the next step up in his career. He's on the right trajectory. We can see the ability he's got and hopefully he can keep kicking on."England forward Callum Wilson added: "He's already a player with confidence but he will have wanted to hit the ground running straight away and that's exactly what he has done."What a signing he could turn out to be." 'I have my way' - Joao Pedro involved all over the pitch Joao Pedro registered 26 touches of the ball against Fluminense. Of all Chelsea forwards to have started at the Club World Cup, only Jackson has managed as many touches in a all of the Brazilian's touches took place inside the opposition half, however – far from was involved all over the pitch in Tuesday's quarter-final, with seven of his touches coming inside his own half."The good thing about Joao is that we knew already how good he was," said Maresca after the game. "Today he played deep but we know he is able to drop deep and link up the play. That's why we decided to bring him in."By contrast, Delap only touched the ball twice inside his own half after starting Chelsea's final group game against Tunis, while only four of Jackson's touches against Palmeiras took place in the Blues' half of the Pedro also made more of an impact in wide areas, regularly popping up on both flanks in an effort to influence Chelsea's build-up majority of Delap and Jackson's touches, meanwhile, were in central areas in the final third of the pitch."Every team has a different style to play: Delap has a style, Jackson another and I have my way," Joao Pedro said before Tuesday's game."I think whoever brings more good things to the team is going to play."On this evidence, Joao Pedro has more than an outside chance of beating both Delap and Jackson to a starting berth in Sunday's showpiece.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Fluminense vs Chelsea LIVE SCORE: Joao Pedro hits TWO stunners for Blues against his boyhood club in Club World Cup semi
WOW PEDRO Fluminense vs Chelsea LIVE SCORE: Joao Pedro hits TWO stunners for Blues against his boyhood club in Club World Cup semi Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA are beating Brazilian side Fluminense in a thrilling Club World Cup semi-final RIGHT NOW - and Joao Pedro has been the star of the show. Pedro is making his first Blues start and against his boyhood club and he has scored two stunners to give the Premier League one foot in the final. PSG or Real Madrid await in the final with their semi-final on tomorrow night. Kick-off time: 8pm BST 8pm BST FREE Live stream/TV: DAZN DAZN Fluminense XI: Fabio, Ignacio, Thiago Silva, Santos, Guga, Hercules, Bernal, Gustavo, Rene, Arias, Cano. Fabio, Ignacio, Thiago Silva, Santos, Guga, Hercules, Bernal, Gustavo, Rene, Arias, Cano. Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chaloba, Tosin, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Nkunku, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN Follow ALL the action from this Club World Cup semi-final with our live blog below...
