Gary Lineker appeals to FA to help England fan get tickets to Euro 2020 final after he turned down chance to watch Denmark clash so he could donate stem cells
Gary Lineker has joined the plight to find tickets to Sunday’s Euro 2020 final for a selfless fan who gave up his seat at Wembley last night to donate his stem cells and bone marrow to save someone’s life.
Sam Astley, 24, passed up the chance of a lifetime of watching England romp to victory against Denmark in last night’s semi-final after he signed up to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.
Mr Astley, from Sedgley in Dudley, West Midlands, was told he was a match a few weeks ago but in a twist of fate, his girlfriend then won a competition for two tickets to yesterday’s match at Wembley.
And he gallantly gave up his place so he could go under the knife yesterday morning at a private clinic in London to donate his bone marrow and stem cells.
However, his critical care nurse girlfriend Beth Hill, 25, was also unable to go to the match because she was self-isolating so the pair donated their prize, which included a stay at The Dorchester hotel and £500 spending money, to relatives.
Sam Astley, 24, passed up the chance of a lifetime of watching England romp to victory against Denmark in last night’s semi-final after he signed up to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register
Mr Astley, from Sedgley in Dudley, West Midlands, was told he was a match a few weeks ago but in a twist of fate, his girlfriend (pictured together) then won a competition for two tickets to yesterday’s match at Wembley
Former footballer Lineker retweeted the message and said: ‘Amazing. Can you help @FA @England?’
Mr Astley told Stourbridge News: ‘Life is more important than a football game at the end of the day. No football game beats saving someone’s life.’
A Twitter user called Gemma Peters tweeted to Gary Lineker to let him know of the situation and said: ‘Football fan Sam had tickets to last night’s game but passed it up to donate his stem cells after he was told by @AnthonyNolan he was a match. Surely we know someone who can get him a finals ticket to say thanks?’
Former footballer Lineker retweeted the message and said: ‘Amazing. Can you help @FA @England?’
Mr Astley, who is a buyer for Yamazaki Mazak manufacturing technology firm in Worcester, said he was a ‘bit nervous’ about the procedure but said he is pleased he signed up alongside his girlfriend Beth Hill.
Gary Lineker has joined the plight to appeal to FA for Mr Astley to get tickets to Sunday’s final
Mr Astley said: ‘Life is more important than a football game at the end of the day. No football game beats saving someone’s life’
Mr Astley signed up to the register at the Olly Wilkes memorial football tournament set up in memory of the young footballer who committed suicide at the age of 22
He will be donating stem cells and a litre of bone marrow which will most likely leave him in some discomfort for up to a month.
Mr Astley signed up to the register at the Olly Wilkes memorial football tournament set up in memory of the young footballer who committed suicide at the age of 22.
A total of 92 people have signed up to the register at the tournaments and Mr Astley is the second person to have been declared a match.
Simon Wilkes, who organised the stem cell donation events, said: ‘He was already sacrificing work time and now he’s sacrificing the chance of a lifetime.’
Rebecca Pritchard, director of register development at the Anthony Nolan charity, told the publication: ‘Our donors are incredible people at the best of times, bearing in mind they agree to help a complete stranger in this way.
‘But these are extraordinary times. Sam has done an extraordinary and incredibly selfless thing by putting the needs of his recipient, above his own pleasure. What a hero.’
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