Celebrating 30 Years of ACLT: A Legacy of Hope, Life, and Community
Thirty years ago, on Sunday 2nd June 1996, we founded the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) out of necessity, determination, and love for our son, Daniel. What began as a desperate search to save one child’s life has grown into a movement that has transformed thousands of lives across the United Kingdom and beyond.
Orin Lewis OBE – Co-founder of the ACLT
For three decades, we have been dedicated to saving lives, raising awareness, and championing greater diversity in stem cell, blood, and organ donation. What began as a deeply personal journey has grown into a movement that has inspired communities across the UK to take action, support one another, and help give patients a second chance at life.
To mark our 30th anniversary, we are honoured to release a special documentary celebrating our journey, the people who inspired our work, and the communities that have stood beside us throughout the years. The documentary reflects not only where we have come from, but also the legacy we continue to build together. As Arayner McDonald says: “That’s what its about, it’s about legacy.”
Join us for Daniel's 39th birthday blood drive...
We advocate, educate, and support communities to break down barriers and reduce waiting times for those in need.
Everything we do is guided by this mission. Through education, community engagement, donor recruitment drives, patient support, and advocacy, we have worked tirelessly to address the inequalities that exist within donor registers and to ensure that more people have the opportunity to find the life-saving match they need.
Over the past 30 years, we have seen extraordinary progress. We have engaged thousands of people in conversations about donation, encouraged countless individuals to join donor registers, and worked alongside communities, partners, volunteers, and supporters who share our belief that everyone deserves an equal chance at life.
A future where donor registers reflect the rich diversity of our communities, and no one dies waiting for a life-saving match.
While we are proud of what we have achieved together, we know our work is far from over. Patients from ethnically diverse backgrounds are still less likely to find suitable donor matches, and too many families continue to face long and uncertain waits. That is why we remain committed to breaking down barriers, increasing awareness, and creating lasting change.
As we celebrate 30 years, we also celebrate every person who has been part of our story. Together, we have built a legacy that has changed lives and strengthened communities. Together, we have challenged barriers and created opportunities for more people to access life-saving treatment.
These reflections remind us that ACLT has always been about people. It is about the families searching for hope, the patients waiting for a match, the volunteers giving their time, the donors stepping forward to help save a life, and the supporters who have stood with us throughout our journey.
And together, we can continue making a difference for the next 30 years and beyond.
Donate financially today and help us continue our life-saving work for generations to come.
Your donation will enable us to reach more communities, recruit more potential donors, support more patients and families, and continue advocating for a future where everyone has an equal chance of finding a life-saving match.
