The Hero Project Northern Ireland
Full presentation slide by slide guide
Slides 1-22 are core slides. This means they should be delivered as part of the full presentation.
Slides 24 – 35 are optional slides. These do not have to be used but are available for you to use if you want to.
This suggested script takes 20 minutes to deliver. You are welcome to rephrase, as long as the key message on each slide is conveyed.
Slide / Suggested scriptSlide 1 – Title slide / Hello, my name is ……”
I’m from The Hero Project, an education programme run by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan
Every day, Anthony Nolan helps save the lives of people who are suffering from blood cancer
I’m here today to explain how you too can make a difference to the lives of others
Slide 2 – Could you be a lifesaver? / The aim is to get the audience thinking that saving a life is something they can do….
“Take a minute to think about the people who save lives every day – paramedics, doctors, firefighters, lifeguards. Hands up if you think you could save a life like that?”
“Now, hands up if you think you could save someone’s life, just by giving a little of your time?”
Slide 3 – 3 ways to save a life / Saving a life doesn’t have to involve bravery or a heroic act
Ordinary people save lives every day, by giving some of their time and donating something of themselves
Today I’m going to give you an overview of three ways you can save a life – stem cell, blood and organ donation
There’s no pressure – I just want to give you facts and encourage you to think about what you’ve heard
Some people might find some of the topics difficult, so if you need to leave the room please do so
Slide 4 – My story / This slide can move where you like in the presentation
You can add a photo if you want
It’s a place to say why you got involved and are passionate about raising awareness
Your real life story will really engage the students
Slide 5 – Organ donation (intro) / WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
“Registering as an organ donor shows that you’d like your organs to be used to help someone else, after you’ve died
“37% of people in Northern Ireland have signed up to the organ donor register BUT not all of them have told their family
“Families are always asked for consent at the time of donation so it’s really important to tell them your wishes
“Families who know their loved ones wishes are twice as likely to consent to donation
“This is important because every year 10 people in NI die waiting for an organ transplant – and one donor can help up to seven people”
Additional info:
“There is a particular lack of donors from ethnic minority backgrounds
A donor needs to be a good tissue match for a patient to give their organs
You’re more likely to be a match for someone from the same ethnic background
The shortage of ethnic minority donors means it is harder for some patients to get the organ they need and they wait longer than other patients”
Slide 6 – Organ donation (Lucia) / WHO NEEDS ORGAN DONATION?
“Organ donation is needed by people like Lucia Quiney Mee, a 14-year-old from Ballycastle NI
She’s healthy now but back in 2007 she had a life-threatening liver condition
Her life was saved by a liver transplant. Complications meant she needed a second transplant a year later and thanks to a stranger she got her chance at life
“To people who are not already on the ODR, I would say: “Please do it!” It is so vital to talk to your family and loved ones about your wishes.
Slide 7 – Organ donation (who can do it) / WHO CAN BE AN ORGAN DONOR?
“You can join at any age – parents can register their children if they’re under 12.
“Anyone over 12 can register themselves online at www.organdonationni.info
“When you register, you can choose what you’d like to donate. You can also register two representatives who can make the decision about donation if the time came.
“Remember, please share your decision with family and friends”
Additional info:
If there is time in the talk, explore the different types of organs and tissue which can be donated (get the group to make suggestions)
Slide 8 – Blood donation (intro) / “Only 6% of 17-70 year olds (the eligible population) in Northern Ireland gave blood in the last year
150 new donors are needed each week in NI and regular donors are really important
Slide 9 – Blood donation (Henry) / People like Henry rely on blood donors
Henry has sickle cell anaemia, an inherited disorder of the red blood cells which is more common in black and ethnic minority communities
Regular blood transfusions are what helps Henry and others like him to stay well and live longer
Slide 10 – Blood donation (who can do it) / You can start giving blood from the age of 17, like Chloe.
“She’s now a regular blood donor and says she does it because ‘it is very important for me to help other people if I would want to be helped myself. Giving blood makes me feel proud and happy because I know it could be saving somebody’s life, which is the best gift anyone can give.’
WHO CAN GIVE BLOOD?
“You can start giving blood from the age of 17, like Chloe.
“Chloe is now a regular blood donor and says she does it because ‘it is very important for me to help other people if I would want to be helped myself. Giving blood makes me feel proud and happy because I know it could be saving somebody’s life, which is the best gift anyone can give.’
“You can register online to give blood. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll get a letter telling you where your nearest session is.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY?
“You arrive at the session and wait to be seen. A nurse takes you through a short medical form
They’ll prick your finger and test a drop of blood to make sure your iron levels are ok
They may also check your height and weight, to ensure your blood volume is high enough for you to donate
You’ll sit in a comfy chair and have a needle placed in one arm
One unit of blood is taken – about a pint (470ml) . This part takes 5-10 minutes
You get something to eat and drink and then you can go home
You’ll have given an hour of your day – but your one unit of blood can save three lives”
Slide 11 – Stem cell donation (intro) / Ask if the audience have heard of stem cell or bone marrow donation
Many people haven’t heard of stem cell transplants – but 2000 people in the UK need one each year
Slide 12 – Stem cell donation (facts) / Stem cells are made in bone marrow, which is inside our bones
They develop into other kinds of cell – including blood cells
If someone has a blood cancer, their stem cells aren’t developing properly
Sometimes their only hope is to have a transplant – which means killing off their unhealthy cells and replacing them with healthy cells from a matching donor
Slide 13 – Stem cell donation (Beth) / Transplants are needed by people like Beth (left)
Beth’s now 19 – she was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was three
She had lots of treatment but, when she was 14, doctors said only a stem cell transplant would save her life
There’s only a 30% chance that a brother or sister will be a matching donor – most people get their match from a stranger on the donor register
Beth’s sister Jemma (right) wasn’t a match but Beth was lucky – she found a match from the register and had her transplant
Beth is now studying at university (London School of Economics)
She said: ‘It feels wonderful to look forward to the future. Without my donor I wouldn’t be able to get my A-Levels or go to uni. It’s thanks to them that I have all these amazing opportunities.’
Additional info (if there’s time / if relevant):
You are more likely to be a match for someone with the same ethnic background
There is a shortage of donors from ethnic minority backgrounds which means it’s harder for patients from these backgrounds to find a match
If you’re white, northern European, you have a 96% chance of finding a match – this drops to 60% if you’re from a BAME background
Slide 14 – Stem cell donation (who can sign up) / WHO CAN REGISTER AS A POTENTIAL DONOR?
You can join the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register if you are aged 16-30 and weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg)
You’ll stay on until you are 60 and there’s a 1 in 790 chance that you’ll be asked to donate in the next five years.
Think about it before you register. If you’re a match for someone, you might be their only match - so you need to feel confident that you’d go through with the donation if you got the call
HOW DO YOU REGISTER AS A DONOR?
To sign up, you need to fill in application form.
You can do that on the Anthony Nolan website (or at an event if we’re coming back to run one)
You’ll be asked to give a DNA sample from your mouth, using a simple test kit. If you’re at an event, we’ll show you how. If you’ve ordered your kit online, there’ll be instructions on how to use it and send it back to Anthony Nolan
Your sample will be tested to get your tissue type, which is put on the register with your details
You’ll get a donor card in the post to confirm you’re on the register
Slide 15 – Stem cell donation (what if I’m a match - bloodstream) / If you are a match for a patient, there are two ways you can give your stem cells
90% of the time, they are taken from the bloodstream
Slide 16 – Stem cell donation, through the bloodstream (Stephen) / Stephen (pictured) is donating through the bloodstream
A nurse visited him at college once a day for four days and gave him a small injection
That stimulated his body to produce more stem cells and send them into the bloodstream – some people feel achey and tired during this part
On day 5, Stephen went to the donation centre (London / Sheffield)
He had a needle in one arm, which took blood to a machine that filtered off the stem cells
The rest of the blood went back into his other arm
The whole process takes 4-5 hours – you can watch DVDs, go online or take a friend / relative with you.
Donors say it’s not painful but a bit tiring.
Stephen was happy to give up some time to help a patient: ‘We’d all like to think that a stranger would step up in our time of need, but sometimes we’re that stranger.’
*PBSC = peripheral blood stem cell
Slide 17 - Stem cell donation (what if I’m a match – bone marrow donation) / Stem cells can also be collected directly from the bone marrow, where they’re made
This method isn’t done very often now but sometimes it is better for the patient – or donor
Slide 18 – Stem cell donation (Ethan) / Ethan donated this way. He stayed in hospital the night before his donation and the next day, he had a general anaesthetic
He was asleep and didn’t feel anything while doctors used a needle and syringe to take the stem cells from the back of his hip (indicate to the audience)
Ethan had to stay in hospital for a day, while he came around from the anaesthetic. This picture was taken the morning after he donated.
Like most donors, Ethan had a slightly sore lower back for a few days and felt tired. These symptoms pass in a few days
Whichever method you donate by, you’ll be advised to rest for a few days
While you do that, your stem cells will be taken to the patient, wherever they are in the world
Ethan said he found donation very easy: ‘It’s such a simple procedure. It’s crazy that I was born with the power to save someone’s life.’
Slide 19 – Should you sign up? / It’s completely up to you whether you register to be a donor – whether that’s for blood, organ or stem cells
We’ve given you an overview today but you can find out more on the Anthony Nolan website, or the blood and organ donation webpages
You can also ask me questions today
Please talk you your family and friends about what you’ve heard today - even if you don’t want to register, you might inspire someone else to do so
Slide 20 – What next (blood and organ donation) / If you want to help, you can:
Register as a blood donor or join the organ donor register online
Slide 21 – Find out about stem cell donation and how to save lives with Anthony Nolan (webform) / Interested in knowing more about stem cell donation, or how you can help Anthony Nolan to save lives?
We have some giveaway cards here today (let students know where in the room they are – seats, at the front etc)
You’ll see a link on this card to a website where you can go and fill in your details
Then we can email you and tell you more about how you can get involved with our lifesaving work
That could be joining the donor register, helping us raise funds, or just spreading the message
There’s no pressure and we won’t pass your details on to anyone else
Additional info: If there’s a recruitment event coming up, mention this now. You can also add the recruitment event slide
Slide 22 – Thank you / It’s been a pleasure to speak to you today. Thank you for listening
Invite questions
OPTIONAL SLIDES
Slide 24 – Adrian Sudbury / Adrian Sudbury was a 27 year old journalist who died of leukaemia.
When he was terminally ill, he led a successful campaign to educate 16 - 18 year olds about stem cell, blood and organ donation.
He believed that if young people are given the facts about what it means to be a donor, many more would join the various registers.
He wanted to 'bust the myths' surrounding donation
The Register and Be a Lifesaver education programme is Adrian's legacy and the reason that you are seeing this presentation today