Every 28 minutes someone in Australia is diagnosed with blood cancer, and for many a blood stem cell transplant from a complete stranger is their only hope.

Are you 18-35 years old? If so, you could save a life! Joining the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABDMR) will increase the chances of those in need finding a possible match.

The best chance of a cure is a stem cell match from a person’s family but more often than not that isn’t possible. Therefore the next best chance of a cure is from a person of the same ethnic background. However, the ethnic diversity of donors registered on the ABMDR is skewed towards North West Europeans and the balance of the ethnic groups are largely under-represented. Gift of Life Australia is committed to increasing the prevalence of under-represented ethnic groups on the ABMDR to increase the chances of a member of that ethnic group receiving a life-saving donor match.

One’s ethnic group is determined by your ancestral history not necessarily where you are born. Where your parents, grandparents even great-grandparents were born and their associated blood lines determine your ethnicity.

We are therefore encouraging our community to get involved by joining the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Register.

The more ethnically diverse the donor registry the more people we can save.

More than 1,000 Australians with blood cancer urgently need a stem cell donation from someone just like you. Registering as a potential lifesaver with Strength to Give, Australia’s stem cell donor registry is as simple as swabbing your cheek. Sign up. Save a life. 

Gift of Life Australia has been a proud donor recruitment partner of Strength to Give’s since 1998. If you or a loved one has had a recent blood cancer or disorder diagnosis and needs to find a stem cell donor match, contact us to find out how we can help run an appeal for you.