UK broadcaster ITV has released Chasing the Odds: A Journey of Hope, a new documentary that focuses on blood cancer patient Peter McCleave’s journey to Macao to raise awareness for stem cell treatment.
Available on YouTube, the 42-minute film also covers the Briton’s search for a suitable stem cell donor, which has so far proven elusive due to his mixed Macananese, Irish and English heritage.
In 2017, McCleave’s world was turned upside down when he was given only seven years to live after being diagnosed with myeloma, a rare form of terminal blood cancer.
Unwilling to give up, the then 39-year old father of two kick-started a 10,000 donors Campaign to draw greater attention to blood cancer and to boost his chances of finding a compatible donor.
While chemotherapy and new drugs have helped to prolong McCleave’s life beyond the original prognosis, the ex-investment banker told Macao News last year that he will need a stem cell match if he is to see his two young sons grow up and live long enough to potentially see a breakthrough in myeloma treatment.
“Even though there are lots of drugs available right now, eventually, the disease will progress or come back, needing [a] change of management or newer drugs,” McCleave’s doctor, Samar Kulkarani, says in the documentary. “The line may end at some stage.”
Last November, McCleave attempted to boost his campaign and his chances of finding a donor by participating in the 2024 Macanese Encontro – a triennial meeting between overseas and local Macanese that sees them celebrate their culture and heritage in Macao.
“I’m acutely aware of the reality and the odds, but this [Encontro] is the best chance. It was always the best chance,” McCleave points out in the film.
[See more: Macao residents urged to sign onto stem cell registries]
The 46-year old also conveys his worries throughout the documentary, stating at one point that “if I can’t connect and if I get the message wrong [in Macao], then the opportunity will not manifest itself again.”
McCleave’s efforts have not been in vain, as various members of the Macanese community who spoke to ITV voiced their support for the campaigner’s cause.
“I really didn’t know much about his [McCleave’s] story until tonight,” one Encontra participant said. “A miracle can happen if everybody gets together and tries to help him.”
[See more: Peter McCleave brings his fight against cancer to Macao]
Aside from Encontro, the documentary also shows McCleave attempting to raise awareness for stem cell donation by taking part in events such as hosting talks with medical students from the Macau University of Science and Technology.
“There are not enough people on the stem cell donor registration list,” McCleave tells the students. “Globally it’s a pitiable 0.4 percent, which is crazy.”
On the documentary, McCleave told Macao News last month that it was a “tough watch,” especially the scenes involving his two sons, Max and Seb, whom he said “are fully cognisant” of the situation and have to deal with the challenges of having a father who suffers from myeloma.
Since his Macao trip, McCleave has continued his personal and global battle against myeloma by taking on the role of managing director at the international blood cancer charity, DKMS.
