Wirral rising star racing driver Nathan Williams is in a campaign to sign up more stem cell donors, after his Dad’s shock leukaemia diagnosis. Nathan, 17, has won five races in the OT Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires series in a car promoting blood cancer charity DKMS and finished on the podium in every race.

On the surface, it seems that Nathan Williams, aged 17 from the Wirral, has been living the dream for the past couple of years. The sixth form student rose up the ranks in sim racing, winning several Perfect Acceleration Sim Racing (PASR) series which were streamed on YouTube. He then graduated to ‘real world’ driving, and remarkably he won his first ever race at Oulton Park in April, and then went on to win both races in the OT Coupe Cup at Thruxton in May.

But behind the scenes, Nathan’s father Andy has been having chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia. Andy, who works in cyber security, first fell ill with flu-like symptoms whilst taking Nathan to a scholarship race in Doncaster, and was diagnosed in February 2024. He spent most of the year in hospital in Liverpool – where one comfort was being able to watch Nathan racing via YouTube.

“The leukaemia diagnosis was a nightmare – we are a close family and I had to tell the boys alone,” remembers Sarah, Nathan’s mum. With support from the racing community, the Williams family, which also includes Nathan’s 14 year old younger brother Zach, pulled together. Andy initially went into remission, but unfortunately relapsed earlier this year. Now, doctors have said that he needs a stem cell transplant, which is planned for September. Only a third of patients will find a stem cell donor within their family. Unfortunately, none of the Williams’ are a match, so Andy will need to rely on a stranger who has joined the stem cell register to give him a second chance. He had only one 100% match out of the 43 million people on the register.

Now the family are working with blood cancer charity, DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell register. By registering as a stem cell donor, you could potentially save the life of someone like Andy. Anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health can sign up with DKMS, it just requires a few quick mouth swabs.

The family hope this movement will act as a conversation-starter that will encourage people in the racing community and beyond to sign up as potential stem cell donors. Every year in the UK, approximately 2,000 people will be waiting for a stem cell transplant, just like Nathan’s dad.The family are also working with DKMS to hold a stem cell donor drive event on Sunday 10 August 2025 at Convoy in the Park, in Donington Park. Nathan will be racing in the next stage of the OT Coupe series, and DKMS will be on site helping people to join the stem cell register. From 9am-5pm, attendees can visit the DKMS stand to collect their swabs and join the register.

“I first heard about DKMS when my dad was having his initial treatment – my Mum had signed up to the register as she wanted to be able to support other people going through what we were as a family. Prior to this we never knew that 9 times out of 10 donating stem cells is a similar process to giving blood.” explains Nathan. “When I was given the chance to race in the OT Coupe Cup and was able to put my own design on the car we decided that we could use it as an opportunity to raise awareness of DKMS and encourage other people to sign up as potential stem cell donors. I hope that promoting DKMS on my car will help my dad and others who’ve been diagnosed with a blood cancer or other blood disorders, to find their stem cell match. This is my way of giving back for all the treatment and care that my dad, who is my biggest supporter, has received. Now that I’m 17, I’m finally eligible to join the stem cell register myself. I’ll be joining the register at Donington Park on 10 August, and I hope as many people as possible will do the same”.

DKMS will be on site at Convoy in the Park registering new potential lifesavers, and they will be available if you have any questions. If you aren’t able to attend on the day, you can also visit the DKMS website – www.dkms.org.uk/register – and order a swab kit in the post.”