AS founder of the Jack Petchey Foundation, I want young people to make a valuable contribution to society, so it's not often that I encourage them to spit. But I'm making an allowance — because a saliva sample could help save a life.

The Jack Petchey Foundation is funding a new campaign launched by Anthony Nolan to recruit more donors to its stem cell register. They are particularly looking for young men aged 18 to 30 to sign up, as they make the best donors yet account for just 12% of the register.

Signing up to donate blood stem cells is one of the greatest things your readers could do. Every 23 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer and a stem cell transplant is often their last chance of life. By joining the register, your readers could give them that chance of life.

It's easy to join the register – simply visit http://www.anthonynolan.org/jponamission">www.anthonynolan.org/jponamission, fill in a short medical questionnaire and give a small saliva sample. It's as simple as that.

I therefore urge your readers, especially the young men, to join us in helping save lives.

Thank you for your help!

Jack Petchey CBE

Founder

The Jack Petchey Foundation