Formby’s StemCellScousers Celebrate Four Incredible Milestones as Fundraising Tops £105,000
A Formby couple whose personal experience of blood cancer inspired them to help save the lives of others are celebrating four extraordinary achievements, including raising more than £105,000, receiving a prestigious national award, gaining royal recognition and helping thousands of people join stem cell donor registers.
Kevin and Mary Dunne, founders of the Formby-based fundraising group StemCellScousers, have spent more than a decade raising awareness of stem cell donation and encouraging people to become potential lifesavers.
Now, with the continued support of family, friends, volunteers, the local community and the wonderful Formby Uke3A band, their dedication has resulted in an incredible series of milestones.
A Personal Journey That Inspired a Lifesaving Mission
The story of StemCellScousers began in 2014 when Mary Dunne needed a lifesaving stem cell transplant.
Following a worldwide search by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, a matching donor was eventually found in the United States, giving Mary the opportunity of a transplant and renewed hope for the future.
The experience had a profound impact on Kevin and Mary, who realised just how important it was for more people to join stem cell donor registers.
In 2015, they established StemCellScousers with a mission to raise awareness, recruit potential donors and raise funds to help other families facing the devastating reality of blood cancer.
Every year, around 2,000 blood cancer patients in the UK search for a matching stem cell donor, yet sadly, not everyone finds the match they desperately need.
For some patients, a stem cell transplant offers their only realistic chance of survival.
Kevin and Mary were determined to help change those odds.
First Milestone: More Than £105,000 Raised for Blood Cancer Charities
What began as a personal mission has grown into an extraordinary community fundraising effort.
StemCellScousers originally set themselves an ambitious target of raising £100,000 to support stem cell donor recruitment and blood cancer charities.
Thanks to years of fundraising events, generous donations and unwavering community support, they have now exceeded that target, raising more than £105,000.
Their involvement demonstrates the incredible difference local people can make when they come together for a worthwhile cause.
The funds raised have helped support organisations working to recruit potential stem cell donors, giving patients across the UK and beyond greater hope of finding a lifesaving match.
Second Milestone: Prestigious Northern Enterprise Award 2026
StemCellScousers have also received national recognition for their outstanding commitment to raising awareness of stem cell donation.
The group has been named:
Best Stem Cell Awareness Community Group at the Northern Enterprise Awards 2026.
The award recognises their tireless efforts to educate communities, encourage donor registration and raise vital funds for blood cancer charities.
It is the latest in a series of accolades celebrating Kevin’s dedication.
He has previously received the Pride of Formby Fundraiser of the Year award and the Trinity Mirror Pride of Sefton Fundraiser of the Year award.
His work has also attracted television coverage.
Kevin was interviewed live on BBC South West’s evening news programme, Spotlight, which featured footage of him donating stem cells to his brother.
The programme used his experience as part of an appeal to find a lifesaving donor for a 17-year-old blood cancer patient in Plymouth.
It was another opportunity to demonstrate how one person’s decision to become a donor could potentially save somebody else’s life.
Third Milestone: Royal Recognition at Buckingham Palace
One of the proudest moments for Kevin and Mary came in May 2025 when they received an invitation to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
The couple were invited in recognition of their outstanding services to the fight against blood cancer.
During the prestigious occasion, they had the opportunity to meet the King and the Duke of Edinburgh.
For a Formby couple whose journey began with Mary’s own desperate search for a stem cell donor, the invitation represented an extraordinary acknowledgement of everything they had achieved.
It was a memorable day and a fitting tribute to their years of dedication, determination and compassion.
Fourth Milestone: Helping Recruit More Than 2,300 Potential Stem Cell Donors
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement of all is the number of people StemCellScousers have helped encourage or fund to join stem cell donor registers.
Their work has supported recruitment through two major organisations, Anthony Nolan and DKMS, as well as through events organised by the group and its supporters.
Their achievements include:
1,550 new donors recruited through £62,000 donated to Anthony Nolan.
94 additional donors recruited through fundraising and awareness events.
62 new donors recruited through a £2,500 donation to DKMS.
504 donors recruited directly onto the DKMS register.
120 additional donors recruited through events organised across three company branches by a family member of one of the group’s volunteers.
Together, these efforts represent an extraordinary 2,330 potential stem cell donors, based on the individual figures supplied by the group.
Each person joining a donor register represents another opportunity for a blood cancer patient to find the matching donor they desperately need.
Although registering does not guarantee someone will be a match or go on to donate, increasing the number and diversity of registered donors can make a lifesaving difference.
For Kevin and Mary, this is what their work has always been about: giving other families the same hope they were given.
50 Local Businesses Join Forces to Support StemCellScousers
The celebrations continue for StemCellScousers, who have now welcomed their 50th local business sponsor, marking another wonderful milestone in their 11 years of fundraising.
Founder Kevin Dunne has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the many independent businesses, national business branches, volunteers, musicians and generous Formby residents who have supported the group over the years.
Karena Artisan Florist Becomes the 50th Business Sponsor
A particularly special thank you goes to Karen Lappin, owner of Karena Artisan Florist at 6 Ryeground Lane in Formby, directly opposite The Grapes pub, who has become the group’s 50th local business supporter.
Karen is a familiar and respected face in the area. Many residents will remember her from her former florist concession inside Derbyshire’s before she moved to larger premises in Crosby.
In May 2026, Karen returned to her Formby roots, opening her beautiful new shop on Ryeground Lane.
She has already demonstrated her generosity by donating a magnificent bouquet of flowers worth £100 as a raffle prize for the StemCellScousers Family Fun Day at The Grapes in June.
The event, supported by Karen and other generous sponsors, helped fund the recruitment of another 40 potential stem cell donors through Anthony Nolan.
Karen has now donated a further £100 gift voucher to be raffled at the group’s forthcoming Christmas Family Music Evening.
Karena Artisan Florist caters for all occasions, offers a delivery service and is currently taking Christmas orders.
Customers can contact Karen on 0151 932 1101, the same telephone number previously used for her Crosby shop.
Kevin explained that StemCellScousers always try to give something back to the businesses that support them by promoting their generosity through social media, local radio, community news and event advertising.
Their X account has more than 3,000 followers, with some fundraising events generating over 60,000 views.
Christmas Family Music Evening at The Grapes – Friday 4 December
The fundraising continues this December with a fantastic Christmas Family Music Evening at The Grapes pub on Green Lane in Formby, on Friday 4 December 2026.
The event promises a wonderful afternoon and evening of family entertainment, live music and fundraising, with some outstanding raffle prizes generously donated by local businesses and Liverpool FC.
An Evening of Festive Entertainment
The celebrations begin at 4.30pm, with the McDonald’s face painter entertaining children until 7pm.
At 7pm, the wonderful Formby Uke3A band will take to the stage, bringing their popular music and community spirit to the Christmas celebrations.
The band has been a tremendous supporter of StemCellScousers over the years and regularly raises funds for other worthwhile causes.
Fantastic Raffle Prizes, Including a Signed Liverpool FC Shirt
One of the highlights of the evening will be the Christmas raffle, featuring some incredible prizes.
Thanks to the generosity of the LFC Foundation, supporters will have the opportunity to win a signed Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC shirt, complete with a certificate of authenticity.
The LFC Foundation has also donated a family pass for a Liverpool FC stadium tour.
Other fantastic prizes include:
A Christmas hamper worth £120, including a £40 food and drink voucher for The Grapes.
A free MOT courtesy of Formby Autos.
A £100 Specsavers voucher.
A £100 gift voucher for Karena Artisan Florist.
Bottles of wine and spirits.
A selection of additional money-off vouchers.
Raffle tickets are already on sale at The Grapes.
Anyone wishing to support the fundraiser or enquire about raffle tickets can also email Kevin at stemcell@lpoolscs.co.uk.
To reserve a table for the Christmas Family Music Evening, contact The Grapes on 01704 878 595.
Everyone is welcome to come along, enjoy the entertainment and help support a cause that has already made such a remarkable difference.
Talking Buddies: A Welcoming Place for a Coffee, a Chat and a Friendly Face
Alongside their fundraising achievements, StemCellScousers have also joined forces with Sefton Support Group to provide a welcoming weekly community initiative called Talking Buddies.
The sessions take place every Monday from 10am until 1pm at the Sefton Support Group Centre, 1 Duke Street, Formby, L37 4AL, adjacent to Formby railway station.
Talking Buddies offers a relaxed, friendly environment where anyone can drop in for a coffee, meet new people and enjoy a conversation.
Whether someone is feeling lonely, would appreciate a friendly face or simply wants to get out of the house for a few hours, everyone is welcome.
A private room is also available for anyone who would prefer a confidential, one-to-one conversation.
Kevin is keen to emphasise that he does not provide medical advice. However, drawing on his family’s personal experience, he can offer a listening ear, share his story and help direct people towards organisations that may be able to provide further assistance.
He can also offer guidance to families wishing to launch social media appeals to find a matching stem cell donor.
With more than 3,000 followers worldwide on social media, Kevin understands how powerful online communities can be when families urgently need help.
Talking Buddies sessions:
Every Monday, 10am to 1pm
Sefton Support Group Centre
1 Duke Street
Formby
L37 4AL
Telephone: 01704 879 352
Email: hello@seftonsupportgroup.org
A Special Letter of Appreciation from Anthony Nolan…
The extraordinary dedication of Kevin and the StemCellScousers team has also received personal recognition from one of the UK’s leading blood cancer charities.
In September 2025, Anthony Nolan’s Chief Executive, Henny Braund MBE, wrote to Kevin and the group to express her gratitude for their decade of fundraising and awareness work.
The letter confirmed that, over the preceding ten years, StemCellScousers had raised more than £50,500 for Anthony Nolan alone.
That funding was enough to support the recruitment of 1,262 new potential stem cell donors.
The Chief Executive praised the group’s commitment and acknowledged the important contribution community fundraisers make to the charity’s lifesaving work.
Since receiving that letter, StemCellScousers have continued their fundraising and donor recruitment efforts, reaching even more impressive milestones.
For Kevin and Mary, the letter was a wonderful acknowledgement of the difference their work has made to families affected by blood cancer.
Formby Bubble Congratulates an Extraordinary Community Team
From their own family’s experience of blood cancer to raising more than £105,000, supporting the recruitment of thousands of potential stem cell donors, receiving royal recognition and now celebrating 50 business sponsors, Kevin and Mary Dunne have achieved something truly remarkable.
Their story is also a celebration of Formby’s extraordinary community spirit.
Every local business that donates a prize, every musician who performs, every volunteer who gives their time and every resident who purchases a raffle ticket is helping to make a difference.
How You Could Help Save a Life
StemCellScousers are encouraging more people to consider joining a stem cell donor register.
Becoming a potential donor is straightforward, and registering could one day give somebody facing blood cancer a second chance at life.
There are three main organisations through which people can register, each with different age requirements.
Anthony Nolan
People aged 16 to 30 can apply to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register.
NHS Blood and Transplant
People aged 17 to 40 can apply to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, subject to eligibility requirements.
DKMS
People aged 17 to 55 can apply to join the DKMS stem cell donor register.
Those interested in supporting StemCellScousers can also visit:
Potential donors can check their eligibility and follow the registration process through their chosen organisation.
A Community Achievement Formby Can Be Proud Of…
From a deeply personal experience in 2014 to a fundraising campaign that has now exceeded £105,000, the achievements of Kevin and Mary Dunne are truly inspiring.
Their determination has helped raise awareness of stem cell donation, supported thousands of potential donors joining registers and brought national recognition to their hometown of Formby.
Behind every fundraising event, every donation and every new registration is the possibility of giving someone more time with their loved ones.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the local community, the dedication of volunteers, the support of family and friends and the wonderful contribution of Formby Uke3A.
Formby Bubble would like to congratulate Kevin, Mary and everyone involved with StemCellScousers on these four outstanding milestones.
Their achievements are a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to make a difference.
And their message remains as important today as it was when they first began:
❤️ Together, we can help defeat blood cancer.
Act now. Gift a life.
Kevin Dunne
Founder STEMCELLSCOUSERS
TWITTER @Dunne2Kev
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