Ryan Reynolds causes rush of stem cell donors after classy message to young Blyth Spartans fan battling cancer

Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds triggered an influx of stem cell donors after sending a classy message to a young Blyth Spartans fan battling cancer.

Leland is six years old and a big fan of sixth-tier Blyth Spartans. The club travel to play Wrexham away at 8 pm this evening. The hosts are, of course, famously owned by Deadpool star Reynolds who has created a bit of a reputation for acts of kindness.

Taking to Twitter this week, the actor acknowledged that while the six-year-old may be cheering for a team other than his own, they have a shared desire to help him beat his cancer - Leland is currently battling Pre-Leukaemia.

Reynolds wrote: “This is Leland. He’s 6. He’s cheering for @Blyth_Spartans tomorrow. I’m cheering for @Wrexham_AFC. But we’d both like to beat his cancer. Leland’s looking for a match.”

The Wrexham owner also shared links for followers to sign up and become stem cell donors. In the hours that followed, a wave of replies to the Tweet came in with people sending screenshots to show that they were newly registered.

One user said: “Done!! - hope I can help someone… thank you Ryan for raising awareness and prompting me to register … hope Leland gets the match real soon.”

Another wrote: “Done. Form filled out and swab kit is on its way. As a cancer survivor myself, you’ve got this Leland.”

Leland will be at the match at Wrexham this evening, and is set to walk out with Blyth Spartans’ JJ O’Donnell who praised the youngster as “one of the nicest most caring children you could ever meet”.

A story from the Leland’s Fight Facebook Group reads: “Nine months ago our world changed forever. Leland was a happy little 5-year-old enjoying seeing Santa and spending Christmas with the family. He developed a cough that didn’t seem to want to go away.

“A visit to our local GP where they decided to take blood, quickly found that Leland’s white blood cells did not seem as they should be. Over the next few months of visits to Sunderland’s haematology department and numerous blood tests for this little man, the doctors decided to refer him to the RVI.

“There Leland was to undergo a Bone marrow biopsy to determine the cause. On Thursday 8th September the devasting news that Leland was diagnosed with MDS/pre-leukemia and is in urgent need of a Bone marrow transplant.

“Unfortunately none of the family are a match and as a mum, I am heartbroken to not be able to give this gift to my wonderfully brave boy. Please if I can ask if you can spare 2 minutes of your time to take a swab to see if there is a potential match. I would be entirely grateful.”

Under 30s can find out if they are a match here, and over 30s can do so here.