It will be eight years this year since Peter McCleave was diagnosed with myeloma. To acknowledge this milestone, and raise funds to support our vital work, he’s taking on a huge skydiving challenge on 8th March!

Peter McCleave, a father of two, was given just seven years to live in 2017 after being diagnosed with myeloma. However, eight years on, having defied the odds, he is taking on a skydive for blood cancer charity DKMS – to raise vital funds and encourage more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors.

Pete, who recently became Managing Director DKMS UK is still looking for his own stem cell donor match. But the Ironman triathlete, family man and long-term campaigner to raise awareness of the impact of blood cancer is determined to give others a second chance at life in the process.

In aid of DKMS, Peter is planning to do a skydive at Tilstock Airfield, Shropshire on 8 March 2025.

Despite Pete defying the odds of his initial, seven year prognosis, it may be more challenging for him to find his stem cell donor match due to his Macanese heritage.  People of UK ethnic minority heritages are under-represented on the register, and the harsh reality is that people from these backgrounds face longer waits for a stem cell match, because a matching donor cannot be found for them. 5% of the entire UK aligned registry is people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Peter McCleave says:

“Every year in the UK, around 2,000 people are waiting for a stem cell transplant. That wait to find a stem cell donor match is even more challenging for people of diverse backgrounds. My aim is to improve the chances for everyone facing a diagnosis of blood cancer or a blood disorder, ensuring that more lives can be saved.”

DKMS in the UK has registered over one million stem cell donors to date. The charity encourages more people to join the stem cell register; works to ensure everyone who needs a stem cell transplant has equal access to one, and conducts research focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of people with blood cancers or disorders.

Currently, just 7% of the entire eligible population in the UK are registered as potential donors, but signing up is a quick and easy process – just some simple mouth swabs and a few health questions – that can be done in the comfort of your home.

For more information about DKMS and how you can get involved, please visit www.dkms.org.uk

Please support Pete by donating to DKMS! It costs DKMS £40 to register each potential lifesaver, and give more people with blood cancer or blood disorders a second chance of life.

We rely on the generosity of our supporters to cover this cost, so please donate today