Emile Heskey's plea for blood donors after kids found to have sickle cell gene

 Ex-England footballer Emile Heskey has started giving blood after discovering two of his children have the sickle cell trait gene.

Carriers of the gene are at risk of having children born with sickle cell disease, which afflicts mainly people with Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Sickle cell disease means red blood cells are sickle shaped rather than circular. This leads to painful blockages that damage major organs and can culminate in a fatal stroke.

Emile, aged 44, has teamed up with NHS Blood and Transplant to help encourage other black donors to register.

The ex-Liverpool, Leicester and Aston Villa striker said: “This is an important cause which is close to my heart as two of my children have the sickle cell trait, which means although they don’t have sickle cell disorder, they can pass it on to their future children.

He recently discovered two of his children carry the sickle cell trait gene ( 

Image: 

NHS)

“I found the actual blood donation really easy.

“I was in and out within an hour. The actual blood donation took just ten minutes.

“We need a whole new generation of blood donors, especially people of black heritage.