Former RAF Chinook pilot Chris Gordon has made an urgent plea for a stem cell donor after being diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal blood condition. The 43-year-old British war veteran was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by the late Queen in 2013 for his bravery in Afghanistan. During a mission, he used his helicopter to protect 31 British and Afghan soldiers from enemy fire and fly them to safety, even after one of the aircraft’s engines was hit.
Mr Gordon, who is originally from Manchester, is now living with severe aplastic anaemia. The life-threatening disorder prevents his bone marrow from making enough new blood cells. Doctors say he requires a stem cell transplant, prompting him to work with blood cancer charity DKMS to persuade more people to join the international donor register.
“In Afghanistan, I witnessed courage and leadership at their very best, with people stepping up when others needed support,” Mr Gordon said. “That was something I always tried to do. Now I am the one who needs help. My potential donor could be anywhere in the world, but they must first register so they can be identified as a possible match.”
Mr Gordon now lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a director for a helicopter company. He has been told that he will need to undergo a transplant within the next few months.
His brother Jonathan was tested but proved to be only a partial match, leaving doctors searching worldwide stem cell databases for a suitable donor. In the meantime, Mr Gordon is receiving blood transfusions twice each week.
The chances of finding a compatible stem cell donor are influenced by a person’s ethnic background. DKMS says ethnic minority communities remain significantly underrepresented on donor registers.
As a result, patients such as Mr Gordon, who is of mixed Jamaican heritage, face a lower likelihood of finding a suitable lifesaving match, the charity said.
The former pilot served in the RAF for 14 years. He lives with his wife and their two-year-old daughter, while the couple are also expecting a son in the coming weeks.
“Many people are unaware that they can become a donor or understand the difference it could make,” he said. “Registering is remarkably straightforward, and most people will never be contacted. But if you are found to be a match, you could save the life of someone like me. It is likely to be far easier than you imagine.”
DKMS describes joining its stem cell donor register as a simple process. Applicants answer a small number of health questions and provide cheek swabs, with free testing kits available to order through the charity’s website.
Bronagh Hughes, a spokesperson for DKMS, said: “For Chris and patients like him across the world, the right person joining the stem cell donor register could give them the chance to rebuild their lives.
“We are incredibly grateful that he has shared his experience in the hope of inspiring more people to become potential donors.
“Registration takes only a few minutes, yet you could one day be asked to give someone a second chance at life. Visit the DKMS website to learn more and order a free kit—you could ultimately save a life.”
