From Southampton student to National Marrow President

Bailey Deacon

I’m Bailey, originally from Torbay in Devon, and I’m currently studying aeronautical and astronautical engineering at the University of Southampton. Alongside my degree, I’m President of Southampton Marrow and also National President of Marrow, the student-led volunteering network that supports the work of Anthony Nolan.

I first got involved with Marrow in my second year at university. I had actually tried to sign up to the stem cell register when I was 16 but never managed to follow it through. When I came across the group at a refreshers’ event, I didn’t hesitate to get involved. I signed up there and then, and not long after, I was offered a place on the committee. Since then, I’ve gone from being a volunteer to leading the Southampton group, and now representing Marrow nationally as well.

My role now is incredibly varied. On a local level, I work with our Southampton team to organise donor recruitment drives, fundraising events and awareness campaigns. Nationally, I work closely with Marrow staff to support student groups across the UK, help develop campaigns, and bring in new ideas to keep improving what we do. One of the most important parts of my role is recognising our volunteers – because everything we achieve is down to their time, energy and commitment.

Our Southampton committee is made up of Erin, Millie, Molly, Rosie and Ruby, and honestly, they are the reason the group works as well as it does. They give up their free time alongside full-time study to support such an important cause, and I feel really lucky to work with them. Erin’s story in particular is something that motivates all of us. She received a stem cell transplant herself, and now dedicates her time to Marrow. As she puts it: “Volunteering is important to me as it allows me to give back to the charity who helped save my life and work with some amazing people aiming to help people just like me. It inspires me and gives me a sense of purpose while navigating stem cell recovery and university.” That perspective is something that stays with all of us in everything we do.

In Southampton, we have over 10 active student volunteers, six of whom are on the committee. One of our biggest and most exciting campaigns each year is Superhero Week, which took place back in March 2026. The aim of the week is to recruit as many potential stem cell donors as possible, and it’s always a huge team effort.

This year’s campaign was particularly special. Not only did we host events almost every day across Southampton, but we were also part of a national milestone – reaching 200,000 people signed up to the stem cell register through Marrow. Being involved in that moment was incredible, especially knowing how many lives that number could potentially impact. As a group, we recruited 164 potential donors in just one week, which is something I’m really proud of.

For me, what makes Marrow so important is the impact it has. Someone is diagnosed with blood cancer every 13 minutes, and for many, a stem cell transplant is their best chance of survival. Only 25% of people find a match within their family, which means the majority rely on finding a stranger who is a genetic match. That’s why donor recruitment is so vital. What we do as students genuinely gives people a second chance at life.

Alongside our regular work, we’ve recently started collaborating with the Social Impact Lab at the university. They support students in tackling real-world challenges and creating positive change, and they’ve been helping us think about how we can grow our events and reach more people. Dave and Sarah, in particular, have been incredibly supportive, offering advice and guidance as we plan for the future.

Balancing all of this with a demanding engineering degree isn’t always easy, but it’s something I genuinely care about. The city-wide support has given me a sense of purpose outside of my studies, and it’s introduced me to some incredible people along the way. It’s also shown me how much of a difference students can make when they come together for a shared cause.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep building on what we’ve achieved – both in Southampton and nationally. If you’re curious to find out more or want to sign up as a donor, come and say hello at the ABP Southampton Marathon Festival on Saturday 2nd May, we’d love to chat!