Gary Ablett's niece Toni saves cancer patient’s life with bone marrow donation

Jan 4 2013 by John Siddle, Liverpool Echo

THE niece of footballer Gary Ablett has saved the life of a cancer patient, after being inspired to join the bone marrow register by her uncle's brave fight against the disease.

Primary school teacher Toni Moore signed up as a donor with other members of her family after former Liverpool, Everton and Birmingham City star Gary was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2010.

The 46-year-old died a year ago – but thanks to Toni, his legacy lives on.

Toni, 23 from Everton, Merseyside said: “When Gary was told he needed a bone marrow transplant to save his life, we all decided to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.

“We knew we would not be a match for him but we could be a match for someone else in his position. It was such an important thing to do.

“There are so many people in the world, I never thought it would be me who came up as a match.”

Gary died on January 2 last year despite a donor being found.

Just months later, the Anthony Nolan Trust contacted Toni to tell her she was a potential match for a patient.

She later found out she had donated to a woman suffering from blood cancer.