STEVO THE MADMAN

We’re thrilled to have our long-term friend, Snapchat influencer Stevo the Madman lead our new campaign, ‘Bruv, Let’s Talk ABOut It’ – a blood donation campaign, urging people of Black and mixed-race heritage – both new and existing donors, to book a blood donation appointment during Black History Month.

Those of you who follow Stevo across Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube where he has a combined audience of over 2.4 million, will know him for his playful nature, sharing funny content of him dancing or re-enacting scenes from films or getting up to mischief with his three daughters Leah, Kaci and Erin.  However, another part of Stevo’s passions lies within raising awareness on stem cell and blood donation, as both treatments were important for his younger brother Jason who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1999 and who sadly, passed away in 2002.

Stevo says: “I was 12 years old when Jason was diagnosed with leukaemia, and I remember clearly, how difficult it was for doctors to find him an unrelated stem cell donor to beat the leukaemia. That’s why I have nothing but love for the work of ACLT and I admire Bev and Orin so much.”

He adds: “Jason and Daniel, (Bev and Orin’s son), became friends as they were treated at the same hospital; Great Ormond Street, and as a result my parents became good friends with Bev and Orin.  Although Jason died in 2002 and Bev and Orin lost Daniel in 2008, my Mum continued to support the work of ACLT for over 18 years, right up until she died in 2020.

I always admire how Mum was able to immerse herself in fundraising for ACLT year on year, despite it being a constant reminder of losing Jason. Now she has also passed away, although it’s extremely painful for me to be reminded of the agony of losing Jason through the work I’m now doing with ACLT, it’s also important for me to keep his and now Mum’s legacy alive, through doing what I can to raise awareness to encourage more Black and mixed-race people to sign up to the blood, stem cell and even the organ donor registers, with the aim of improving the overall health outcomes for the Black and mixed-race British community.”