A Shropshire care company is raising money for Blood Cancer Awareness Month after its managing director was diagnosed with the disease.
Steve Harris runs Sentinel Care Services, based at Stafford Park, Telford. He is battling Myelodysplasia, a blood cancer known as MDS, which causes a drop in your number of healthy blood cells.
The care company is holding a fundraising raffle for Bloodwise, a charity which funds world-class research and offers support to anyone affected by blood related disorders.
Sentinel Care Services is calling on other Shropshire businesses to donate raffle prizes with a target of raising £1,000.
Blood Cancer Awareness Month aims to encourage people to talk about blood cancer, fund research and support the charity.
Mr Harris was diagnosed with the disease five years ago and is due to have a bone marrow transplant from his sister in the near future.
He said: “The type of blood cancer I have means I have been able to carry on working, which is incredibly lucky. I am looking forward to having the bone marrow transplant as I hope it will mean I can lead a completely normal life as I currently get very tired.
“There are more than 200 different blood cancers but many of them are unheard of. I want to raise awareness of them and the symptoms, as often they go unnoticed as they are similar to flu symptoms. People need to know to go their GP if the symptoms don’t go away.”
Mr Harris said it was important to Sentinel Care Services to raise money for charity and give back to the community.
He said: “Many of our customers have also experienced blood cancer or know people who have.
“It is a cancer which needs a larger profile as 96 per cent of people don’t know that blood cancer is one of the biggest cancer killers and 91 per cent don’t know it’s one of the most common cancers.”
To donate to the raffle prizes and help fundraise, contact Sentinel Care Services by calling 0845 129 8157 or email admin@sentinelcareservices.co.
For more information about Blood Cancer Awareness Month, see
https://bloodwise.org.uk/our-
Steve Harris with a member of the Sentinel Care Services team who are looking to raise money for Blood Cancer Awareness this month.
