Emilia's Big Day!!
Jake Watson • 28 July 2025
EMILIA'S BIG DAY
It's not long now until we welcome Emilia and DKMS to The Cherry Red Records Stadium for her big day!
- London Broncos will host ‘Emilia’s Big Day’ to celebrate young cancer survivor whose life was saved by a stem cell donor.
- Supporters can join the stem cell donor register with a simple mouth swab
- This is part of a partnership with DKMS: inspired by lifelong rugby league fan whose baby son needed a stem cell transplant.
‘Emilia’s Big Day’ is a major peak in a partnership between Broncos and DKMS, which encourages rugby fans to become potential lifesavers by joining the stem cell donor register.
Emilia Mackay, 7, was just 5 years old when she was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, and required weekly blood and platelet transfusions just to survive. Doctors said that she needed a stem cell transplant, but unfortunately, no one in her family was a match, so a global search began to find a stranger who could save her life.
Emilia’s dad, James Mackay, says, “As a parent, my child being diagnosed with such a serious illness was my worst nightmare. When we knew that Emilia’s future would rely on someone from the stem cell donor register, it was terrifying.”
Fortunately for Emilia, a stranger in Germany had signed up to the DKMS donor register and was identified as a match. They agreed to donate their stem cells, which were then flown to the UK before being quickly transferred to the hospital where Emilia was being cared for. Emilia is now in remission, and since her transplant at the end of 2023, she has been thriving.
James says, “Emilia’s donor changed everything for us. It’s obviously very emotional; the kindness of a random stranger means that my daughter has been given another chance at life. We’re so happy that she is well enough to do the things she loves, and that we can attend rugby games as a family. We are so excited for the event with Broncos and DKMS -- we won’t just be celebrating Emilia, we’ll also be adding more people to the register so that more patients like her can get a second chance at life”.
From 2pm on 6 September, there will be interactive games and activities for all ages, entertainment throughout the day, and food trucks & refreshments at the stadium. Match kick off will be at 4pm. Attendees can also join the stem cell register on the day by completing a few simple mouth swabs. Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer, but currently just 7% of the eligible population are currently registered as potential donors.
This partnership was initiated by lifelong rugby league and Bradford Bulls fan Andrew Foster. Weeks after his birth in 2022, Andrew’s son Rycroft was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and became seriously ill. Doctors told Andrew and his wife Catherine that Rycroft would need a stem cell transplant. No one in their immediate family was a compatible donor, so doctors turned to the stem cell donor register, where a match was found. He had a transplant and began to improve significantly, but tragically, Rycroft contracted an infection whilst his immune system was still recovering and passed away aged just 16 months.
“Rycroft was so unlucky not to make the full recovery which a stem cell transplant has offered to so many others, but his transplant gave us more time with him, and every single day was so precious,” says Andrew.
“It’s not until your child needs a transplant that you realise how little most people know about stem cell donation – it’s such an amazing thing to do, and to honour Rycroft’s memory, I wanted to reach more people with that message.”
Andrew will be attending the event on 6 September alongside Emilia, her dad James, and their families. The families will be supporting DKMS as they add supporters onto the register, and answer questions about stem cell donation and transplantation. For patients with blood cancer or blood disorders, every person joining the register could be the person that they have been waiting for – a compatible stem cell donor match, able to give them a second chance at life. In nine out of ten cases, donating stem cells is a simple, outpatient procedure similar to donating blood platelets.
Emilia’s Big Day will take place on Saturday 6 September, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, SW17 0NR. Gates open and activities begin at 2pm, and match kick off is 4pm.
Tickets for the match are available here: BUY A TICKET!!
IT'S GAMEWEEK!! London Broncos return to The Cherry Red Records on Sunday for the first time since the game with Widnes Vikings on May 31st. Mike Eccles side now have four remaining home league games in Wimbledon and are calling on the support of our fantastic supporters to help us finish the season strongly. Hospitality tickets for the 'Legends Lounge' & 'Broncos Bar' can be purchased from the link below.
HIGHLIGHTS: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos London Broncos travelled up to Featherstone Rovers in a Championship fixture between two of the in-form sides in the division. To watch back full extended highlights of the game watch the video below or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full game back.
MATCH GALLERY: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos It was a frustrating afternoon as the Broncos were beaten by Featherstone Roves at the Millennium Stadium. Marcus Stock and Alex Walker had given the Broncos the lead at half-time but Rovers proved too strong in the second half running out eventual 36-18 winners. #WeAreLondon
POST-MATCH REACTION: Eccles reacts to Featherstone defeat London Broncos head coach Mike Eccles bemoaned a lack of experience and getting some tough officiating calls as they went down 36-18 to Featherstone Rovers. The Broncos had led 12-4 at the break but the home side used the hill to their advantage in the second half and proved too strong. Watch the full interview with Mike below. #WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos Here is your starting line-up for this afternoon's Round 19 Championship fixture with Featherstone Rovers at the Millennium Stadium. There is just one change to the starting 13 that beat Sheffield Eagles last week as Aaron Small comes in for Louix Gorman. Dan Okoro is named as an interchange after joining from Warrington Wolves on loan. #WeAreLondon
MATCH PREVIEW: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos We move into Round 19 of the Championship season on Sunday with another away trip as this week we head to Featherstone Rovers. This will be the third time the two sides have met this season after Broncos won the home league game before Rovers were to take the win in the 1895 Cup Quarter Final. Mike Eccles side will come into the game in good form having won 48-6 at the weekend against Sheffield and now three wins from the last four games. SQUAD INFO Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad to head to Featherstone Rovers in this weekend’s Round 19 Championship clash. The Broncos come into the game in good form having won 3 of the last 4 league games and will be looking to close the gap on the hosts who currently sit above them in the table. There are only two changes to the 21 that beat Sheffield Eagles last week Huw Worthington is unavailable after failing his HIA last weekend. Meanwhile, Dan Okoro, who has joined on loan from Warrington Wolves, replaces Louix Gorman who is unavailable from Hull KR this weekend.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Featherstone Rovers vs London Broncos Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad to head to Featherstone Rovers in this weekend’s Round 19 Championship clash. The Broncos come into the game in good form having won 3 of the last 4 league games and will be looking to close the gap on the hosts who currently sit above them in the table. There is only two change to the 21 that beat Sheffield Eagles last week Huw Worthington is unavailable after failing his HIA last weekend. Meanwhile, Dan Okoro, who has joined on loan from Warrington Wolves, replaces Louix Gorman who is unavailable from Hull KR this weekend.
INTERVIEW: Dan Okoro joins on loan Warrington Wolves prop Dan Okoro has joined the club on loan until the end of the season and believes the club is a good fit for him as he looks to gain some all important game-time. The 22-year-old Hull KR academy product has had numerous stints on loan in the Championship, particularly impressing whilst at Bradford which earned him his move to Warrington. Watch the full interview with Dan below.
INTERVIEW: Brandon Webster-Mansfield London Broncos media caught up with in-form centre Brandon Webster-Mansfield ahead of Sunday's trip to Featherstone Rovers. The 23-year-old Aussie has made an instant impact since joining the club and has been named in the most recent Rugby League World Team of The Month. Watch the full interview below plus keep scrolling to watch some of his highlights as he promises "there is more to come."
Dan Okoro joins on loan London Broncos are delighted to announce the loan signing of Dan Okoro from Warrington Wolves until the end of the season.
