Transport for London (TfL) has joined forces with stem cell transplant charity Anthony Nolan to launch a new film depicting lifesaving journeys taking place throughout London’s transport network.

The new film is available to watch on YouTube, and has been released to coincide with Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

Produced by TfL and Anthony Nolan, the film features what TfL calls “unsung heroes”, such as volunteer courier Irene Robertson who regularly transports donated cells to patients in need of a transplant.

Stem cell transplants offer an increased chance of survival for many blood cancer or blood disorder patients. The transplant involves giving cells from a donor to the patient via their blood stream.

This enables them to grow their own new healthy blood cells and platelets. Scientists also use stem cells in medical research, and to develop new treatments.

Also featured in the film is TfL staff member, Sonja Jutte. Sonija joined the stem cell register in 2005 after a family friend needed a transplant. She has recently donated stem cells to be given to a patient overseas.

Once stem cells have been taken from the donor, they have just 72 hours to reach the recipient. They are taken by volunteer couriers such as Irene, who has been volunteering since July 2018 and has taken her lifesaving cargo to destinations all over the world.

TfL has worked with Anthony Nolan previously, most recently last month, raising money by selling Notting Hill Carnival 2024 themed pin badges to staff.

The charity is marking fifty years since the establishment of the world’s first stem cell register. Shirley Nolan set up the register to find a match after her son Anthony developed a rare blood disorder. She was unable to find a match for Anthony, who sadly died aged seven in 1979. Shirley died in 2001.

In the register’s fifty years, it has facilitated more than 26,500 transplants for people around the world.

While around 97 per cent of adults who receive a stem cell transplant from a donor have blood cancer, the charity’s work also facilitates transplants and supports patients, and their loved ones, affected by blood disorders like aplastic anaemia, sickle cell and thalassemia.

The charity has set itself a target of one million people on its register, an increase from the current 900,000 people to one million. The more people on the register, the more patients can increase their chances of surviving blood cancer and blood disorders.

Anthony Nolan is particularly encouraging people aged 16-30 to sign up, as research has shown that younger donors lead to more successful transplants. It is also highlighting an urgent need for more people from ethnic minorities to join the register, to help find lifesaving matches.

For more information about Anthony Nolan, to sign up to the stem cell register, or donate, visit the charity’s website.

TfL also works with other charities, including Protection Approaches and Railway Children.

“Every time I undertake a trip whether it’s to the United States or Surrey, I never cease to be amazed at this lifesaving service.

“Nearly every trip involves using the TfL network to get from A to B in the shortest possible time and to know that someone is waiting for stem cells that will be lifechanging for both them and their family is a very humbling experience.”

Irene Robertson, Anthony Nolan volunteer courier

“Whilst donating stem cells is a pretty straight forward outpatient procedure, it’s very exciting and a real privilege to give someone a second chance at life.

“With an extremely short window of opportunity, TfL has a crucial role to play in saving lives by providing a reliable and comprehensive transport network.”

Sonja Jutte, Data Scientist for Transport for London