Our founder and chair, Lesley, meets her stem cell donor

Two years ago, Lesley was given the incredible gift of life when she received a stem cell transplant. After no matches were found in her family or in the UK, the search was widened. Her donor was a complete stranger living in Germany – someone she had never met, but whose decision to donate stem cells ultimately saved her life.

The journey to find a match involved organisations in both countries, including the Anthony Nolan Trust in the UK and the German bone marrow donor registry. There are strict rules around contact between stem cell donors and recipients, with both sides required to remain anonymous for the first two years following a transplant. During this time, any communication has to take place through the relevant organisations, protecting the privacy of both the donor and recipient. Reaching the two-year milestone was therefore incredibly significant for Lesley, as it meant that, with the agreement of both parties and the appropriate organisations, the possibility of direct contact could finally be explored.

Two weeks ago, Lesley travelled to Germany to meet her stem cell donor in person. For two years, she had known that somewhere in Germany there was a person who had given her the chance to live, but she had never been able to put a face to that extraordinary gift.

Lesley says that meeting the person who saved her life was extremely emotional and something she will never forget. It was a hugely special moment that felt like the final piece of the jigsaw.

Seeing Lesley reunited with her donor is a powerful reminder of what stem cell donation can mean: one person's decision to donate can give another person something priceless – the chance of a future.