World Blood Cancer Day 2026

What is World Blood Cancer Day?

Every year on 28 May, people around the world come together for World Blood Cancer Day to raise awareness about blood cancer and stem cell donation.

In the UK, over 39,000 people are diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder every year. For many patients, a stem cell transplant is their best chance of survival.

Our mission is simple: show that anyone can help save a life.

World Blood Cancer Day is your moment to take action - whether that’s choosing to register as a stem cell donor, spreading awareness, or supporting DKMS UK through a money donation.

It only takes a few minutes to potentially become someone’s second chance at life.

How to get involved

We need you to help us make noise about our mission this World Blood Cancer Day. Here’s how you can show your support.

Spread the word

Download our World Blood Cancer Day resources and start sharing.

On May 28, you could:

• Post on your social media
• Put up posters at work, college or university
• Drop a message in the group chat

Small actions can have a huge impact. Together, we can get more people on the stem cell register.

Remember to share this link: dkms.org.uk/register
That’s where people can sign up and order their swab kit to join the stem cell register.

Host a donor registration event

Bring people together and make a real difference in your community.

You can host a stem cell donor registration event with friends, colleagues, or your local community and help more people join the register in person.

The DKMS UK team will support you every step of the way.

Donate to DKMS UK

It costs us £40 to register one new donor to the stem cell register.

By donating to DKMS UK, you help us add more potential lifesavers to the register and give more patients a second chance.

Every donation directly supports people affected by blood cancer and blood disorders, by improving their chances of finding a lifesaving match.

Why stem cell donation matters

For many people with blood cancer, a stem cell transplant is their only hope. But not every patient can find a matching donor.

By joining the UK stem cell register, you could be the match someone is desperately waiting for.