My friend needs you to become a bone marrow donor

First year is mad. It’s probably the most sociable year of your entire life. Between Freshers Week, moving in to halls, and starting your new classes you meet hundreds of young people, many of whom you’ll become friends with.

Despite all of the nights out that you have with all of your fabulous new uni pals, it’s completely normal for these friendships to fizzle over the course of the year and die completely over the summer. Maybe you’re still Facebook friends and maybe you say hi to each other in the union bar, but the reality is that there will be lots of people that you won’t class as friends by the time you get to second year.

I met Neil McClean about 4 months in to first year. Neil studied Physiology and lived in Cairncross, a crappy Glasgow Uni halls that was definitely everyone’s third accommodation choice after QM and Murano. A friend from my film course introduced us when I strayed from Murano for a night and went there for pres, and although I must admit that I initially found him a tad overwhelming, we got drunk, danced the night away at Buff Club, and became solid pals.

Look at that Chang top. No he didn’t go to Thailand.

On February 7th 2014, only midway through our first year, Neil was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and returned home to London for treatment. The news hit Neil’s friends hard. Through talking to my Cairncross friends about the situation, I could easily tell that his departure had greatly affected all of their lives. My course pal who had introduced us seemed withdrawn, and despite not knowing Neil on anywhere near the same level as the others, even I felt sick to my stomach at the news. This wasn’t empathy for someone that you hear about through others, this was personal distress over the potential loss of a friend

That’s the kind of person Neil is; the kind that gets under your skin in an annoying yet unavoidable way. His face is permanently fixed with a grin that isn’t unlike that of a toddler who has definitely just flushed your favourite necklace down the toilet. His sarcasm and wit come out in almost every sentence that leaves his mouth, and if I had a pound for every time I’ve hit him on the arm for saying something cheeky I would be able to pay off my student loans AND book a last minute holiday to Mallorca. When Neil walks in to a room, you notice him. Not because he’s (particularly) loud and obnoxious, but because his energy is always up and you just want to be his friend.

I still remember the first time I saw Neil after he went in to remission. We were at GUSA Ball and my friend mentioned that Neil was there with the football team. Let me just say straight off the bat, I was very drunk at GUSA Ball. Very. But I remember being so happy at the prospect of seeing him that I genuinely teared up. How bloody embarrassing. When I saw him he was exactly the same guy, fit as a fiddle, cracking inappropriate jokes about cancer and desperately trying to ceilidh dance. I couldn’t have been happier and probably hugged him about 16,397 times.

Trust Neil to go in to remission in time for a party.

On the 26th of April 2016 Neil’s cancer returned after a hideously short remission of less than two years. Again he has had to leave university and go to London for treatment. He’s up to his old antics, passing the time by writing blogs about tormenting poor nurses and sneaking out of the hospital to go get bevved with his uncle. Neil’s courage and attitude is admirable, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, but Neil needs a bone marrow transplant, and he needs it now.

Many people are organ donors but Anthony Nolan has a register for those who wish to sign up to be marrow donors. Many people are too scared to donate marrow because they think it involves a comically large needle being inserted in to your lower back, but in actual fact only 5 per cent of all donations happen in this way, and the other 95 per cent donate through a simple blood donation. In order to register as a donor, all you need to do is fill out a short form and spit in to a cup. That’s it. It takes ten minutes out of your day and could give our friend the third chance that he desperately deserves. If Neil’s story isn’t enough for you then do it for the 8,599 other people diagnosed with this life shattering disease each year. Do your bit, because Neil would do his.

Glasgow Marrow are organising a one-off free clinic in Glasgow on June 22nd for people to come and sign up to be marrow donors in person, for more information on this and other events click the link above and follow them on Facebook.