August 9th Manchester, England – Sunday proved to be a beautiful sunny day in Manchester ideal for touring the historic city center. Instead 140 people came from all over the U.K., and even some from Denmark, not for leisure, but to learn about stem cells.
Most of the attendees travelled by car or by train from different cities around Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to attend the first U.K. Stem Cell Awareness Rally. Darren Clarke, organizer of the event, modeled it after previous U.S. Stem Cell Awareness events, choosing Manchester as the location to bring it closer to Europe and the U.K. From the size of the crowd, it was clear that stem cell therapy is a hot topic that many people are eager to know more about.
The Stem Cell Awareness event in Manchester was the perfect occasion to learn more about this new biotechnology and the possible benefits that stem cells can bring to many people who otherwise would have little or no chance for improvement in their condition.
The event’s major focus was optic conditions. Two of the main guests present were testament to the therapeutic power of stem cells. One featured guest was Dakota Clarke, daughter of Wilma and Darren Clarke, who suffers from Septo-Optic Dysplasya (SOD). After treatment, Dakota was able to recognize objects and toys for the first time. The other featured guest was Macie Morse, a 16 year-old girl from Colorado who noticed an impressive improvement in her sight. She started her stem cell treatment legally blind and now, with the help of special lenses, is able to drive.
When Darren, father of Dakota, and Shel, mother of Macie, spoke to the audience, the participants sat entranced, listening to two similar stories of something that most Western doctors claim to be impossible – improved vision for both children.
Similarly to Darren and Shel, other patients shared their stories with the audience. Their goal was not only to show that stem cells are a viable therapeutic solution – but also to give hope to the many people who may have abandoned hope after years of negative diagnoses from their doctors.
Brian McNeill talked about his battle with ataxia and the improvements in quality of life that he saw after stem cell treatment in China. Brian’s poignant words touched many in the audience.
Susan Lowe was the last to speak on patient experiences in China. As part of her account of her son Mark’s trip to China, she displayed large prints of the pictures she had taken while at the Qingdao center, showing how exceptional the hospital, doctors and nurses were.
The event also featured medical specialists and a representative of Beike Biotechnology Company, the Chinese company that provided treatment to Dakota, Macie and the other patients.
Luca Ricci, patient representative of Beike, introduced to the audience general information about stem cell technology; the level of care offered by Beike; and the features of their hospitals. His talk effectively dispelled common criticisms about China’s lack of development and low quality of care while at the same time highlighting many positive aspects of seeking treatment in China.
Last to present was Peter Conry, who has worked for many years in the pharmaceutical field and who recently became a stem cell advocate after witnessing the benefits that many Beike patients have experienced. The open nature of his presentation on stem cells quickly earned him the trust of the listeners. After he spoke, the audience asked many questions, receiving precise answers.
Following the event, some of the participants took the opportunity to get together for a chat and drink, getting to know one another and sharing their own stories and hopes. Besides being an occasion for stem cell awareness, this gathering was an opportunity to bring people together, share experiences and thoughts, and give each other enthusiasm for the future.
Even though stem cells are not an easy topic to discuss, Darren Clarke and the other organizers of the Stem Cell Awareness event refused to be intimidated by its controversial nature. Instead they successfully organized a professional and powerful event which made people aware that this alternative treatment does exist, bringing hope to people – here and now.
