I am serving Police Detective based in Blackburn. During lockdown, ideas were floating about how to raise money for a the Anthony Nolan Charity. We agreed that all the males should grow moustaches to lighten the mood in a very difficult period for key workers and try and raise some money for this brilliant charity which is very close to my heart.

In May 2011, my dad, Chris Barker aged 57 after feeling ill was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). This condition occurs when the bone marrow malfunctions and stops producing the right quality and quantity of blood cells. 

By 2014 his condition had deteriorated and progressed to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. The only thing that could save his life was a stem cell transplant from a matching donor. After an extensive worldwide search by the Anthony Nolan Charity, an umbilical cord blood match was found in Spain. 

In September 2014 he was given the stem cell transplant in Manchester Royal Infirmary which saved his life. Without Anthony Nolan my dad would not be with us today. Please support and if under 30 please support and register with the Anthony Nolan Charity. 

https://www.anthonynolan.org/

Who knows you could be a match and save somebody's life