Thanks for visiting Jamie's Memorial page. 

Jamie (James, to many) was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in January 2015. He turned out to be in the 'high risk' group, which meant that without a stem cell transplant his chances of survival beyond a few months were minimal. There followed a nail-biting time when we did not know if a stem cell match would be found - Jamie's siblings proved not to be a match, and we were then dependent on the donor register; Anthony Nolan, and its links with donor registers abroad, is the key player here. 

The day we were told that a 'good match' had been found (with a German donor, as it happens) was a day of joy and hope.  Jamie went on to have what seemed like a successful stem cell transplant, post chemotherapy, in June 2015. Three out of four people in Jamie's position at this point, survive long term. Jamie was unlucky; despite his stem cell transplant having 'taken', his leukaemia relapsed in May 2016, and he died on August 31st. However, we had at least a precious year with him that we would not otherwise have had.  Moreover it is wonderful that for many others, the donor register represents the gift of much longer-term life.  

As well as raising money for Anthony Nolan, we would like to encourage people to sign up to the register. Please visit https://www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells to find out more information.  Healthy 16-30 year-olds are particularly valuable - though don't let this be a limitation.

Jamie's younger son, Nick, is fundraising further by doing the Three Peaks Challenge with two friends. They were going to do it on what would have been Jamie's 60th birthday, February 18th 2017, but having been advised it is too dangerous at this time of year, will now do it March 31st - April 1st  (see the "Team van Oosterom" link below to view Nick's fundraising page)

Anthony Nolan is a pioneering charity that saves the lives of people with blood cancer. Their register matches donors willing to donate their blood stem cells to people, like Jamie, who desperately needed lifesaving transplants.