Firefighters who lost a colleague as he waited for a stem cell transplant have helped recruit schoolchildren as potential donors.
Methil Fire Station crew members swab tested pupils and staff at Levenmouth Academy who want to join the Anthony Nolan donor register.
Firefighter Gary Dall passed away in April at the age of 50 but before his death, he and his Scottish Fire and Rescue Service colleagues campaigned to raise awareness of the register.
Tragically Gary, who had an aggressive form of blood cancer, had found a suitable donor but his operation was cancelled twice due to ill health.
The firefighters were trained to take swabs for testing from those who had earlier volunteered to add their names to the register which matches donors to people with blood cancer in need of stem cell or bone marrow transplants.
They were accompanied by retired area commander Ally Boyle, of Hamilton, who founded the fire service’s long-running partnership with Anthony Nolan after his own battle with leukaemia.
Station Manager Stephen Michie, of Methil Fire Station, said that when he approached the school management team to offer youngsters the chance to become lifesavers they were confident pupils would rise to the challenge.
He said: “The number of young people positively engaging with us, supporting the partnership or joining the register from Levenmouth Academy has been exceptional and gives a true measure of these engaging, positive young adults who have been invited to make an informed choice supported by a fantastic school staff.”
Depute rector Alan Brown said he was “absolutely overwhelmed” by the number of senior pupils and staff who had got involved with Anthony Nolan.
He said: “We have six senior pupils who are our champions and they have worked very hard to ensure we have the support of a huge number of our senior school.
“These young people have done themselves, their families and the school community proud.”
Gary, who had myelodysplastic syndrome, had been a firefighter for 30 years and was group manager based at Kirkcaldy Fire Station.
His work to promote the register led to numerous people signing up, including members and supporters of Raith Rovers and Fife Flyers.
Nationwide, the fire service has recruited thousands to the register.
