Paula Solomon
2013 BBC Radio Manchester Heroine Award

When Paula’s 20 year old son Martin was struck down a second time from Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma, he was told that without a bone marrow/stem cell donor he would die.

Paula took it upon herself to set up the Match4Martin campaign along with family and friends in order to find the donor Martin most desperately needed, since although a Anthony Nolan bone marrow charity have carried out a worldwide search no match can be found. The difficulty is Martin’s Irish/Afro-Caribbean heritage. Against the odds, it now seems Martin may have beaten the disease thanks to a new drug from The Christie, yet to be rolled out across the UK.

Paula, however, will continue with the campaign just in case the cancer returns and to support others like Martin.