Anthony Nolan’s world-leading stem cell register, groundbreaking cell and gene therapy research and expertise in stem cell transplants means we currently help four patients a day in need of a transplant, giving more people another chance to live.

GPF Adventurers are a team of 6 working at JLR who will be competing in JLR Challenge 2.0 on September 21st in aid of Anthony Nolan. The challenge is set in the Elan Valley in Wales and consists of over 80 teams from JLR orienteering around the area for 15-25miles with the aim of racking up as many points as possible. Points are won by reaching checkpoints and completing a range of both physical and mental challenges as a team, all over an 11 hour period.

Our team has a personal connection with Anthony Nolan. Meet Miles. Very shortly after he was born, Miles was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, which is a rare genetic immunodeficiency meaning his family were told he had a pretty short life expectancy. There is a cure however, and that's a stem cell transplant.

Jake, one of the GPF Adventurers, signed up to the Anthony Nolan register at university and got a call in late 2020 that he was potentially a match for someone. Going through the process, Jake made the stem cell donation over Easter 2021 (which he says is the easiest thing ever!).

All donors have to stay anonymous for 2 years, but when this time was up Miles family asked to reach out. Jake and the family are now really good friends, and it even turns out that Miles' Dad, David, works at JLR too! The register is world wide, could've been global, and it turns out Jake and David work across the Gaydon Triangle from one another.

We really appreciate any support you can give to a truly brilliant cause, and anyone under 30 - please sign up to the register!

GPF Adventurers - Sophie Sharphouse, James Mead, Simon Madahar, Jake Wilkins, Jacob Mawson and Samara Clark