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In the fight against blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a single stem cell donation can rewrite a patient's story—from despair to survival. DKMS, the world's largest stem cell donor registry, makes this miracle possible by connecting everyday heroes with those in need.

The Science Behind the Gift

Stem cells are the body's master builders, capable of regenerating blood and immune systems. For cancer patients whose own cells are destroyed by disease or treatment, a transplant from a matching donor replaces the faulty system with a healthy one. The match depends on human leukocyte antigens (HLAs)—genetic markers inherited from your parents. With over 11 million registered donors globally, DKMS uses advanced typing to find these rare "10/10" matches, where all key HLAs align.

The process is straightforward and safe:

1. Register: Swab your cheeks at home (kits are free via dkms.org).
2. Match: If you're a potential donor (ages 18–55, in good health), DKMS contacts you.
3. Donate: 80% of collections are peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donations—a non-surgical procedure like giving blood, taking 4–6 hours. The remaining 20% involve bone marrow extraction under anesthesia, with full recovery in days.

Donors experience minimal side effects, often just flu-like symptoms from a growth factor injection to mobilize stem cells.

Real Impact, Real Stories

Every 27 seconds, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer worldwide. DKMS has facilitated over 100,000 transplants since 1991, turning strangers into lifesavers. Take Alex, a 35-year-old teacher who donated PBSCs to a child with leukemia: "It was easier than a dentist visit, and it gave a family their future back."

Expanding the Chain of Hope: Other Stem Cell Donor Registries

Just as DKMS connects donors worldwide to save lives from blood cancers, several other nonprofits operate similar registries, each focusing on recruiting volunteers, matching donors to patients, and facilitating transplants. These organizations collaborate through global networks like the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA), ensuring broader access to matches. Below, we highlight a few key ones, including how to get involved.

National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) / Be The Match (USA)

NMDP, operating as Be The Match, maintains the world's largest bone marrow/stem cell registry with over 22 million potential donors. It has facilitated more than 100,000 transplants since 1986, emphasizing diversity to improve matches for underrepresented groups. Contact Details:

• Website: bethematch.org
• Phone: 1-800-MARROW-2 (1-800-627-7692)
• Email: questions@NMDP.org

Anthony Nolan (UK)

Founded in 1974, Anthony Nolan runs a UK-based registry of over 600,000 donors and pioneers research into better matching. It has enabled 7,000+ transplants, often for children and young adults with leukemia. Contact Details:

• Website: anthonynolan.org
• Phone: +44 303 303 0303
• Address: 2 Heathgate Place, 75-87 Agincourt Road, London NW3 2NU, UK
• Email: info@anthonynolan.org

Japan Marrow Donor Program (JMDP) (Japan)

Established in 1991, JMDP has a registry of over 500,000 donors and has supported more than 20,000 unrelated transplants, focusing on Asia-Pacific needs where ethnic matches are crucial. Contact Details:

• Website: jmdp.or.jp/en
• Phone: +81-3-3352-1840 (general inquiries via website form recommended for English)

These registries, like DKMS, make joining easy—often just a cheek swab away. By diversifying global donor pools, they boost survival rates to 70-90% for matched transplants. Explore one today; your genes could be someone's lifeline.

Why Join? The Power of One

Your registration costs nothing but could save a life—especially if you're from underrepresented ethnic groups, where matches are harder to find. Diversity in the registry boosts survival rates for all.

Be the Cure

For someone battling blood cancer, a stem cell transplant isn’t just treatment—it’s a second chance at birthdays, graduations, and quiet mornings with loved ones. Every new donor added to registries like DKMS, Be The Match, or Anthony Nolan raises survival odds by widening the pool of potential matches, especially for patients from minority ethnic backgrounds who face the longest waits.

Your cheek swab today could become a child’s laughter tomorrow, a parent’s embrace, or a grandparent’s wisdom passed on. It costs nothing but a moment—yet delivers everything.

Be the match. Visit dkms.org today to register and join a global chain of hope. One swab, endless possibilities.

Register now. Visit dkms.org, bethematch.org, or your local registry.

One swab. One life. One unstoppable ripple of hope.