After being screened against 25 million people Jake Cooper was still looking for a bone marrow match in his fight against cancer, with the latest push for a cure to be held in Byford at the weekend.
Jake, who lives in Gosnells, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2013 when he was 11 years old.
The disease makes up 0.03 per cent of diagnosed cancers worldwide and is more commonly found in adults than children with less than 130 juvenile sufferers in the world.
Jake’s mother, Renee Cooper, said while her son takes oral chemotherapy twice a day it was not a long term solution and their hopes lay in a bone marrow transplant.
“Jake is doing okay and bone marrow transplant is a huge risk however as one cannot stay on these drugs forever it is a matter of time especially since Jake’s response is very slow and we are on our second trial drug already,” she said.
“Bone marrow transplant is not relating to blood type, it’s a simple two-millilitres of blood to register to check one’s DNA to see if they match.
“Even if they are lucky to match it’s a very simple procedure these days to donate.”
As part of the effort to increase the donor pool a bone marrow registry day would be held at Briggs park on Saturday from 10am until 4pm.
Ms Cooper said the day coincided with the first world bone marrow awareness day and Jake’s 13th birthday.
“Awareness is huge and very limited in Australia too,” she said.
“The most frustrating part about it is that even when people are donating blood at Red Cross the question, discussion or education about going on the bone marrow registry is not even asked or offered to patients and the sample would already be there.
“People are not even aware how simple it really is and the impact it can have on families.
“It is life saving and yet so easy and painless.”
Ms Cooper said the day would be an opportunity for people to sign up for the bone marrow registry or donate and would include activities such as a DJ, bouncy castles, sumo suits, dunking machine, assault course and super heroes.
Entry was free and all activities including a sausage sizzle were a gold coin donation.
All funds raised would go towards www.urthecure.com.au.
Visit www.urthecure.com.au or www.facebook.com/jakesquestforacure.
