A message from Ollie and Sara

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mayo Clinic are no longer accepting registrations. We did it. Thanks to you we have more than 40 potential donors. You are incredible. We are so humbled by your outpouring of love and support. Thank you for the outpouring of support from around the world over the last week. We recently met with the Mayo Clinic team and they are confident they have enough candidates to find a living donor match. We are truly speechless. Hundreds of shares and nearly 40 of you applied to be his living donor. You have lifted our spirits and restored our hope. We will never give up on our miracle.

Ollie and Sara Tetlow

A living liver donor appeal

Ollie needs part of a liver from a living donor with blood type O.

Ollie Tetlow, 43, and father of two, needs a living-donor transplant at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Friends and family have been tested, but no one is a match, so the search is widening. Without it, he will die. Could you be the one that helps save his life?

Check if you can donate Watch Ollie's story

The donor questionnaire is easier to complete on a desktop or laptop than on a phone.

Required: blood type O · ages 18–60 · any nationality welcome

Ollie, smiling and raising his fist in a hospital chair, wearing a t-shirt that reads This Is Rebellious Hope

Ollie · 43 · blood type O

His story

Ollie's story.

Ollie is a 43-year-old husband, father of two, DJ and fundraiser from the UK. Days after a 10K run he was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer (bowel cancer) and told he had weeks to live. Two years on, he has raised over $200,000 for Cancer Research UK and shares his journey of “Rebellious Hope,” inspired by the late Dame Deborah James.

Ollie's journey so far

Diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer (bowel cancer) on Leap Day 2024 (29 February).
Asymptomatic, with no obvious signs of cancer.
Spread to his liver, with 150+ tumours.
From diagnosis to chemo in 8 days to save his life.
52 rounds of consecutive chemo.
Successful bowel resection to remove the primary tumour.
One year living with a stoma bag.
March 2026: officially listed on the UK deceased-liver waitlist (a parallel option to a living donor).

A pioneering liver transplant could cure him.

Ollie with his wife and two children outdoors

Ollie wearing a sparkly cowboy hat during chemotherapy

Ollie and Sara meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace

Ollie and family at a glow-in-the-dark family day out

Watch Ollie's video on Instagram @ollietetlow

Donor requirements

Ollie's donor must be blood type O.

Ollie's transplant team is looking for a living donor with blood type O to give a portion of their liver. The general requirements to be considered are:

01 / Blood

Blood type O, positive or negative. This is what makes you compatible with Ollie.

Not sure of your blood type? Check with your GP, look at your medical portal, donate blood, or use an at-home blood type kit.

02 / Health

Aged 18–60, over 50kg (110 lb), BMI under 35, with no significant alcohol or substance use and no major medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, active cancer, HIV or hepatitis B/C).

03 / Travel

Able to travel to Mayo Clinic Rochester for evaluation (2–4 days) and surgery and recovery (around 5 days inpatient; 4–6 weeks in total). All donor travel and associated costs are covered by the Tetlow family. Any nationality is welcome.

The questionnaire checks these basics in about 15 minutes. Mayo's living-donor team then reviews your answers and contacts you about next steps.

Start the questionnaire

What being a living liver donor means

Facts about living liver donation.

The main facts about donating part of your liver. You can read more about living-donor liver transplant.

The liver regenerates

Surgeons remove roughly 40–70% of a donor's liver. Within weeks both the donor's and recipient's liver regrow to nearly full size.

Your care team is independent

A separate donor advocate and care team look after the donor. Ollie cannot see your medical information, and you can withdraw at any point in the process.

Time and travel

Evaluation is about 2–4 days of outpatient testing in Rochester. Surgery and recovery are roughly 5 days inpatient and 4–6 weeks in total. All donor costs, including travel, evaluation, surgery and recovery, are covered by the Tetlow family. There is no financial cost to the donor.

The first step is the questionnaire

The process begins with a confidential online questionnaire, about 15–20 minutes. It is easier to complete on a desktop or laptop than on a phone.

How to register

If you are blood type O, complete the questionnaire.

The questionnaire takes about 15 minutes and is confidential. Completing it does not commit you to donating. It begins Mayo Clinic's screening process.

Start the questionnaire

Easier to complete on desktop: use a laptop or computer rather than a phone if you can.

About 15 minutes Easier on desktop Strictly confidential Mayo Clinic Rochester Ollie's DOB: April 29, 1983

If you're not blood type O

Other ways to help.

If you are not able to donate, you can share Ollie's story or support his family with the costs ahead.

01 / Share

Follow and share

Follow Ollie's accounts and share his story, especially with anyone who is blood type O.

@ollietetlow Facebook

02 / Media

For media

Press release and a press contact for journalists covering Ollie's story.

Read the press release (PDF) Juli, press & interviews (US)

Juli.mcglynn@gmail.com

Sara, press & interviews (UK)

sara.tetlow@gmail.com

03 / Give

Support the family

As an international patient, Ollie is not covered by US insurance, so his family is responsible for all costs for both Ollie and his donor. Once a match is found, fundraising will open for anyone who would like to support them financially.

Fundraising opens once a match is found.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ.

What is Ollie's birthday?

April 29, 1983. You'll need this when completing the donor questionnaire.

How long will it take to be contacted by Mayo?

So far, donors have been contacted within 7 days of registering. Mayo is expediting the process for Ollie's case.

Is there any cost to the donor?

No. All donor costs, including travel, evaluation, surgery and recovery, are covered by the Tetlow family. There is no financial cost to the donor at any stage.