A BIG-HEARTED footballer has become the third person called upon to help save a life after signing up to the Anthony Nolan register at a charity event organised by a Brierley Hill fundraiser.

Casey Mulhall, from Withymoor, signed up to the stem cell register at the Olly Wilkes Memorial Football Tournament 2018 – along with Sam Astley who selflessly turned down tickets to see England play in the Euro 2020 semi-final in order to donate his stem cells.

Father-of-one Casey, who plays for Stourbridge Athletic, never imagined he’d be called upon to help save a life but this week he learned he was a match for a patient in need of a stem cell transplant.

The 26-year-old drainage engineer for Metro Rod is now the third person out of 92 who signed up at stem cell drives, organised by fundraiser Simon Wilkes and wife Lynn, to be declared a suitable donor.

Matt Beveridge, who signed up at a 2017 charity event organised by Simon, received the call first in 2018, and he was followed by Sam Astley from Sedgley whose donation during Euro 2020 last July made national headlines.

Stourbridge News: Sam AstleySam Astley

Casey, who has an eight-month-old son, said it was “amazing” news.

He added: “I wasn’t expecting to be called on at all. For me to be a match with someone is incredible.”

Football coach Simon, who has a rare form of blood cancer, has been holding charity events, including stem cell drives, in memory of his son Olly, who died in 2017, aged 22.

Stourbridge News: Olly WilkesOlly Wilkes

He said he was “absolutely blown away” to hear a third person who signed up at his events is to become a donor.

He added: “It is unreal that Casey is our third match after signing up to the register at The Olly Wilkes Memorial Tournament 2018, the same one Sam Astley signed up at, following on from Matt Beveridge who donated his stem cells in 2018.”

Alex Cupit, online recruitment lead at Anthony Nolan, said of the news: “Simon’s awareness-raising events continue to change lives, with a third attendee from Dudley matched with a patient and ready to donate their stem cells.

"We’d like to thank Casey whole-heartedly and look forward to following his journey.

"Our sincerest thanks also go to Simon and his family for continuing to do vital work promoting the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.

"We urgently need more young men like Casey to join the stem cell register, as they make the best possible donors for people with blood cancer - find out more by visiting www.anthonynolan.org.”