Barry man's cheek swab helps stranger in need 3,000 miles away

18 September 2026

When Kevin Tam was scrolling through social media, one interaction started a journey which led to a life being saved thousands of miles away.

What began as a simple decision to request a swab kit online would ultimately lead Kevin to join Welsh Blood Service’s stem cell registry and donate to a patient in urgent need in the United States.

Each year, the Welsh Blood Service works to encourage around 6,000 people to join its stem cell registry. The more people who sign up, the greater the chance of finding a potentially lifesaving match for patients in need in Wales and beyond.

While people across Wales continue to step forward and register, the need for volunteers remains constant with patients still unable to find a suitable match.

Kevin, who was living in Barry at the time, was matched with a patient living with a serious blood disorder. He became the first person to donate his stem cells with the Welsh Blood Service after joining via their home-delivered swab-kit pathway.

Now, ahead of World Marrow Donor Day (22 September), Kevin is backing the Welsh Blood Service’s ‘In Our Blood’ initiative, which invites eligible people from every background to consider blood and stem cell donation, while shining a particular light on the need for more donors from underrepresented communities.

Reflecting on his donation journey, Kevin said: “When I first signed up, I never imagined a simple cheek swab kit could one day connect me with someone who urgently needed a donor. Once I knew I had the chance to help, saying yes felt like the only answer.

“You never know when you could be the one person in the world who can give someone more time with the people they love.

“If you’re eligible, please consider joining the Registry. The kit was sent straight to my door and only took minutes to do. For someone waiting for a match, it could mean everything.”

Stem cell transplants are a vital treatment for people with blood cancers and blood disorders, including leukaemia, lymphoma and sickle cell disease. For some patients, a stem cell transplant is the only option available for them to overcome their illness.

Patients are more likely to find the best possible match when the Registry reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. For patients from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds, the search can be even more difficult, with around seven in ten patients from these communities struggling to find a suitable donor.

Progress is being made, with over 6,000 new volunteers joining the Welsh Blood Service’s registry last year, with over 15% coming from ethnic minority backgrounds, more than twice the population percentage in Wales.

Through ‘In Our Blood’, the Welsh Blood Service is encouraging people aged 16 to 30 from a Caucasian background, or aged 16 to 45 from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage or minority ethnic background, to request a swab kit and take the first step towards potentially saving a life.

Christopher Harvey, Head of the Welsh Blood Service Stem Cell Registry, said: “Kevin’s story perfectly demonstrates why every person who joins our stem cell registry matters. What began with a simple cheek swab kit resulted in a potentially lifesaving donation for a patient who urgently needed a match.

“We’re incredibly proud that Kevin was the first person to be matched through our swab kit programme and go on to donate. His journey shows that signing up takes only a small commitment, but it can have a huge impact if you are ever called upon.

“Every new registrant increases the chances of finding a match for someone facing blood cancer or a serious blood disorder. We need more young people from all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to join and help give patients hope.”

There are two ways to join the Welsh Blood Service’s stem cell registry: by requesting a swab kit online, delivered to your home, or while giving blood. To support the initiative or sign up, visit www.welshblood.org.uk.