Emilia’s Big Day: London Broncos partner with blood cancer charity to celebrate young rugby fan
Jake Watson • 15 July 2025
Emilia’s Big Day: London Broncos partner with blood cancer charity to celebrate young rugby fan
- 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.
Rugby league’s London Broncos have teamed up with blood cancer charity
DKMS to organise ‘Emilia’s Big Day’, a family fun day and stem cell donor registration event, before their Championship game against Bradford Bulls on 6 September.
‘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.
Jason Loubser, Chief Executive for London Broncos, says: "We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with DKMS and celebrating Emilia at our match against Bradford Bulls on 6th September. At the London Broncos, we believe rugby league is more than just a game, it’s a community built on strength, solidarity and support. This match is not only a great opportunity to welcome new fans into the sport but also to shine a spotlight on the vital, life-saving work DKMS does in the fight against blood cancer. We hope to inspire our supporters and the wider rugby community to step up, get involved and potentially become heroes off the field too."
Peter McLeave, DKMS UK Managing Director, says: “Stem cell donors can truly change people’s lives. For Rycroft, a donation from a stranger meant more valuable time with his family, and for Emilia, it has meant she is in remission and back doing the things she loves. We’re so grateful for the support of London Broncos and the wider rugby league community, who have been working so hard to get the word out and encouraging more people to join the stem cell donor registry.”
Joining the DKMS stem cell donor register is a quick process involving a simple mouth swab, which can even be completed at home. Anyone aged 17 – 55 years who is in general good health can register.
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!!
If you can’t attend the match on 6 September, you can sign up to receive a mouth swab kit online at: https://www.dkms.org.uk/london-broncos
Things you didn’t know about blood cancer:
Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
Every year, nearly 15,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK.
People from UK ethnic minority and dual heritage backgrounds are under-represented on the stem cell donor register, and the harsh reality is that people from such backgrounds can face longer waits for a compatible stem cell match.
For more media information and interviews, please contact Deborah Hyde: press@dkms.org.uk or 07535 103 385.
Notes to editors
About DKMS:
DKMS is one of the most significant non-profit organisations in the world dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. Founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr Peter Harf, DKMS and the organisation's over 1,500 employees have since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life. With more than 12.5 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this over 125,000 times to date by providing stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated stem cell transplants. The organisation has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, and South Africa. In India, DKMS has founded the joint venture DKMS-BMST together with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust. International expansion and collaboration are key to helping patients worldwide because like the organisation itself, blood cancer knows no borders. DKMS is also heavily involved in the fields of medicine and science, with its own research unit focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of patients. www.dkms.org.uk
POST-MATCH: Mike Eccles post Batley victory Mike Eccles has praised his London Broncos side after a "professional" win away at Batley Bulldogs. The Broncos picked up their 7th win of the season with a 30-16 victory against the team directly below them in the table. Eccles held special praise for Ted Davidson with the London youngster playing just his second game for the first-team and impressing with a powerful performance. #WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: Batley Bulldogs vs London Broncos Here is your starting line-up for this afternoon's Championship fixture against Batley Bulldogs at The Fox's Biscuits Stadium. Brandon Webster-Mansfield returns from injury and is named as an interchange. Ethan Natoli is in the back row with Chris Hellec and Ted Davidson making up the centres. Lukas Mason starts and Jensen Monk also returns to the matchday squad. Alex Walker continues to captain the side in the place of Will Lovell who remains out with head knock protocol. #WeAreLondon
END OF SEASON AWARDS EVENING!! Join us for a special evening as we come together as One Club to celebrate the 2025 End of Season Awards on Wednesday 17th September. Hosted in the 1889 Lounge at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, doors open at 6:30pm with a buffet meal and sides included in every ticket plus sweet treats for dessert. The players are set to arrive at 7.30pm ahead of the awards ceremony beginning at 8:30pm. It’s your chance to mingle with players and staff from both the Men’s and Women’s teams, as we reflect on the season's achievements. Don’t miss this unforgettable night with the whole club! Please note: Tables will be allocated at random and a seating plan will be in place on the night. Please issue any dietary requirements and names allocated if purchasing multiple tickets to: Lynsey.Coleman@londonbroncosrl.com Keep scrolling for more tickets options.
MATCH PREVIEW: Batley Bulldogs vs London Broncos It's the penultimate away league game of the season on Saturday as we make the trip to Batley Bulldogs. It's 11th vs 10th at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium (3pm KO) with both sides now guaranteed to be in bottom four irrespective of the results in the final three games. Batley come into this game off the back of a resounding win away at Hunslet and off the back off announcing James Ford will be the new head coach for the 2026 season. SQUAD INFO Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for the Championship trip to Batley Bulldogs on Saturday (3pm KO). Will Lovell remains unavailable after suffering from a concussion in the game at York and Sadiq Adebiyi is also unavailable after receiving a head knock in last week's game against Oldham. However, in good news Brandon Webster-Mansfield returns to the squad after injury and Lukas Mason is available on dual-registration from Wigan Warriors.
PREVIEW: Mike Eccles looks ahead to Batley trip London Broncos Director of Rugby and Performance Mike Eccles has said he's disappointed that the "middle eights" won't be happening this season as he wanted his team to finish on a high. The RFL confirmed on Wednesday that the season will now end after 27 games with no relegation/promotion play-offs between League One and the Championship. Both Broncos and Batley are certain to finish inside the bottom four of the Championship but the game will now simply be a fixture between 11th and 12th place in the division. However, with James Ford now announced as Batley's Head Coach for next season, Mike Eccles says both teams will now begin plans for next season. #WeAreLondon
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Batley Bulldogs vs London Broncos Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for Championship trip to Batley Bulldogs on Saturday (3pm KO). Will Lovell remains unavailable after suffering from a concussion in the game at York and Sadiq Adebiyi is also unavailable after receiving a head knock in last week's game against Oldham. However, in good news Brandon Webster-Mansfield returns to the squad after injury and Lukas Mason is available on dual-registration from Wigan Warriors. #WeAreLondon
RFL STATEMENT: New format outside Betfred Super League in 2026 The RFL Board have confirmed that the Betfred Championship and League One competitions will be combined in a single division outside the Betfred Super League in 2026. This follows the decision to expand Super League from 12 clubs to 14, subject to conditions – which was taken by the existing Super League clubs last month. A number of fixture formats are being developed following consultation with the Championship and League One clubs, but there will be no final announcement until after the number and identity of clubs in each of the two expanded competitions is confirmed, on Thursday October 16. However the reversion to a single division outside Super League means the Middle Eights that had been scheduled for the end of the 2025 season, as a means of determining promotion and relegation between Championship and League One, will no longer take place. The Betfred League One champions will receive £25,000, a trophy and medals, as promised at the start of the season. North Wales Crusaders are currently top of the table, and could clinch the title if they beat Keighley Cougars in Colwyn Bay this Sunday. The Betfred Championship Play-Offs will still take place, with the winners of the Betfred Championship Grand Final receiving £100,000 and 0.25 club grading points. There are three rounds of the regular season remaining, with York Knights currently four points clear at the top of the table – although Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique, who are currently joint second, each have a match in hand and face each other at Bartercard Odsal Stadium this Saturday. Nigel Wood OBE, who has chaired the Strategic Review, said: “Following the decision of the Betfred Super League clubs that the elite competition should expand to 14 clubs in 2026, subject to conditions, this is a logical and equally exciting next step. “The Championship and League One clubs have been extensively consulted and were virtually unanimous that the two divisional structure for the part time game wasn’t working as well as it ought, particularly League One - and it is a great credit to the Championship clubs that they recognised that position. “There are so many historic and ambitious clubs outside the Super League, and we believe this will not only enhance their attendances and finances, but also make them more attractive for investment. “It will provide an attractive and compelling fixture list for all clubs outside the Betfred Super League – and mean they all kick off the 2026 season with the opportunity to win the Betfred Championship, which will remain a key step towards earning promotion to the Super League.” Ends…
CLUB STATEMENT London Broncos can confirm we are one of the 12 clubs who have lodged an interest in joining the proposed expansion of Betfred Super League to 14 clubs in 2026. We are currently in the process of putting together a strong presentation that will be submitted by the September 12th deadline with the outcome announced on October 16th #WeAreLondon
GAMEWEEK: Batley Bulldogs vs London Broncos It's the penultimate away league game of the season on Saturday as we make the trip to Batley Bulldogs. It's 11th vs 10th at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium (3pm KO) with both sides now guaranteed to be in bottom four irrespective of the results in the final three games. Batley come into this game off the back of a resounding win away at Hunslet and off the back off announcing James Ford will be the new head coach for the 2026 season. Tickets for this game can be bought from the link below! Keep scrolling for tickets for the final home league game of the season on September 6th.
Open trial for U17-U19s on 14 Sep to join the London Broncos Women Talent Pathway
