Picture supply, Household handoutImage caption, Ben Collins discovered he had a uncommon type of leukaemia after being admitted to A&E on Christmas DayArticle informationAuthor, Holly NicholsRole, BBC Information, in St Albans24 June 2024, 06:18 BSTUpdated 5 hours agoMore than 450 individuals attended an organised swab day to see in the event that they have been an appropriate stem cell match for a 24-year-old man with leukaemia.Ben Collins, from St Albans, discovered on Christmas Day he had T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL).Lots of have been on the Previous Verulamians Rugby Membership on Sunday.”It was simply unbelievable. I actually did not count on this,” mentioned his mom Katrina Collins.”I had goals that no-one would flip up, or we’d be flooded, and that is what it has been like.The swabs will now be despatched off and added to a nationwide database.Picture supply, Household handoutImage caption, Mr Collins has acquired months of therapy at Milton Keynes HospitalMs Collins mentioned her son, who now lives in close by Hemel Hempstead, had been “struggling” lately as a German donor had been discovered – however the association fell by.She mentioned it was “devastating”, so the search started to search out one other volunteer.”You simply really feel a lot heat from the group,” she added.”I did not realise that everybody would take this on board and go along with it, it is simply so heart-warming – it is wonderful.”Picture supply, Holly Nichols/BBCImage caption, Katrina Collins was left astounded by how many individuals volunteered to have a swab taken on the eventTo discover out if anybody is a match, three swabs are taken, which take roughly a minute every. Ms Collins mentioned these are despatched off to a lab to verify for any matches with Ben and also will stay on the nationwide register.”It’ll take 4 to 6 weeks to get outcomes as a result of there are such a lot of.”We’d like heaps and much extra individuals on the register,” she mentioned.Picture supply, Toby ShepheardImage caption, Lots of attended the rugby membership all through SundayAlex Russell, 18, mentioned he wished to have his swab taken as there had been a historical past of most cancers in his household and he mentioned it was “tremendous straightforward, like a Covid take a look at”. “You make an actual contribution to somebody’s life,” he defined.Picture supply, Holly Nichols/BBCImage caption, Alex Russell signed as much as the register and had some swabs taken Samantha Gardner, 53, introduced 5 members of the family along with her.”I informed all my youngsters they needed to come and do it, as if we have been in the identical boat, we’d hope different individuals would do the identical.”Picture supply, Holly Nichols/BBCImage caption, Aaron Durrant, 24, and Samantha Gardner, 53, got here alongside as Mr Durrant went to high school with Mr CollinsMore on this story