Top charity award for on call firefighter

The 20-year-old volunteer firefighter at Kilmelford Community Fire Station was chosen by stem cell donor charity Antony Nolan.

Cameron became the charity’s milestone number 100 in July 2023 after giving his stem cells to help save someone’s life - three years after he first signed up to be a donor aged just 16.

Being named Antony Nolan’s 2024 champion came as a big surprise to Cameron who said: “I was over the moon when I found out I had won the award. I was not expecting it at all.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) charity partnership with Anthony Nolan sees the SFRS visit secondary schools to hold information events where pupils learn how they can support the charity’s lifesaving work by joining the stem cell register.

When the SFRS presentation was taking place at Oban High School, Cameron’s year group were too young, but he noticed something going on. Curious, he stopped and peered through the classroom windows watching what was taking place with the older children. 

What he saw inspired him, and he joined the stem cell register as soon as he could when he turned 16. The SFRS/Anthony Nolan online registration process is an option open to everyone.

He said: “I should probably have been in class but I just stopped and watched through the window. I had never heard of Anthony Nolan and I decided to sign up when I was old enough.

“I joined the register because by doing so, you can help someone who is in need. For all the time it takes you, you could add so much more into someone’s life.”

In March 2023, after a match was found, Cameron became the 100th person inspired by SFRS to donate their stem cells for a patient in need of a transplant.

The SFRS partnership with the charity was formed in 2009 after then Area Commander Ally Boyle had been diagnosed with Myelodysplasia, a blood cancer for which the only potential cure is a stem cell transplant. The partnership has seen more than 19,000 potential donors recruited to the register since.

As a volunteer on call firefighter Cameron helps to protect his local community, he also works at Kames Fish Farming in Kilmelford.

Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with blood cancer. The charity uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer and blood disorder patients in need of stem cell transplants. It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success and supports patients through their transplant journeys. Everyday Anthony Nolan gives three people a second chance at life.

You can find out more here:  www.anthonynolan.org/sfrs&data=05|01|Avril.Cadden@firescotland.gov.uk|050fd4f132644160893808db2c63475a|791d5ea724c942709ed3bfde1f8a6624|0|0|638152577123436234|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=7QLOMiMFHiQxfat5v2vVqw8q5wNGNYC/U1XFa7FXDRw=&reserved=0">www.anthonynolan.org/sfrs