John Stones met with Manchester City fans at an event encouraging stem cell donors to fight against blood cancer.
The event, held at the club’s Academy Stadium, was held to try and encourage people to join the stem cell register, and to take a free test which involves a swab of their cheeks.
It was in aid of a four-year-old football fan called Dillan, who was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2020, and needs a bone marrow transplant in the next month following a relapse.
The 28-year-old England star met with fans during the event on Thursday, run in connection with DKMS, an international non-profit bone marrow donor centre.
Stones wrote on Instagram: ‘Big thank you to everyone who was able to come down yesterday to register to be a donor and help in the search to save Dillan’s life. It was great to see everyone who came!’
John Stones praised Manchester City fans who signed to the stem cell donor register this week
DKMS UK posted on Twitter: ‘Thanks so much @ManCity and John Stones for having us yesterday! It was lovely to meet all the supporters who came along and joined the stem cell registry.’
Dillan’s mother Amy made an emotional plea for donors as she urged the public to take a test to find out if they are a match, telling the BBC: ‘The test takes ten minutes and you could save my son’s life.’
Amy said taking the test was the ‘quickest and easiest way to save someone’s life, if not Dillan’s then someone else in desperate need’.
DKMS UK praised Stones and Man City fans for their work to fight blood cancer in this country
TV personality and former Crawley Town footballer, Mark Wright, and Coronation Street actor Michelle Keegan are among the famous names who have also shared Dillan’s appeal on social media.
In the next fortnight, Manchester City are hosting further donation events in connection with their home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund.
People who cannot make those events, but still wish to donate, are encouraged to register online for a free home kit.