Our story begins with Captain Courageous himself. Like any young boy, Angus Bond’s favourite things include toy cars, train tracks and animals. He loves to play outside and his quirky sense of humour is forever making his big sister Molly and big brother Ted laugh out loud.

Yet unlike most, Angus has to battle some very real monsters. He suffers from Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), a rare bone marrow failure disorder that requires him to visit hospital multiple times each month for blood work and life-saving blood transfusions – for the rest of his life!

Born on 22 April, 2008, in Singapore where his family was living, Angus was a healthy, happy and much-loved baby. At just five weeks of age he became desperately ill with chronic anaemia. Within 12 hours he’d had two blood transfusions, and three more before moving to Canada a week later for his father’s new work posting.

After a bone marrow biopsy at eight weeks, Angus was diagnosed with Diamond Black-Fan Anemia (DBA). It would be another two years before he returned to Australia.

Angus is 8 years old now and has already had around 100 blood transfusions. By the time he is twenty he will have had more than 250 transfusions. To reinforce the value of donating blood, the 230 litres of blood Angus will need is the equivalent of 50 grown men.

He is a strong and heroic boy and although he is very small – a symptom of his condition - he is reaching all the milestones expected of any child around his age. This is all due to the kind people who donate blood every three months; without them, Angus wouldn’t be here to tell his story.

Experts hope that within Angus’ lifetime there will be a cure for DBA. There is the possibility of a bone marrow transplant; however, none of his family is a match and the procedure comes with many risks. The family has been told that Angus carries a rare tissue type within his bone marrow, which makes it harder to find a match.
For now, the original Captain Courageous will make his regular monthly treks to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide each month, until a cure is found or a bone marrow transplant becomes an option.

Donations of blood, time and money go directly to helping save lives. We invite you to act heroically and contribute in any way you can.