Students looking at laptop

Help to delete blood cancer by registering to become a potential blood stem cell donor

Become a donor

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer, such as leukaemia. For many, their last hope of survival is a blood stem cell donation from a selfless stranger.

Four out of ten people looking for an unrelated matching donor worldwide are not able to find a match. But you can help us change this.

Are you aged between 17-55 and in general good health? By signing up today you could provide hope, because someone’s best chance to beat blood cancer could be in you. Register on the DKMS website and they will send you a swab kit. All you need to do is swab your cheeks, send the swabs back to them by freepost and you will be added to their database.

To be considered a match, a donor and patient must share the same tissue characteristics and with more than 22,000 characteristics that can occur in millions of combinations, finding a match isn’t easy. It is especially difficult for patients from minority ethnic backgrounds as there are substantially fewer potential donors on the UK-aligned blood stem cell registry from those backgrounds. Additionally, donors under age 30 are more likely to be called upon, and we are asking everyone to tell their sons, daughters and friends about the urgent need for more young blood stem cell donors. We need your help to give everyone, everywhere a chance to beat blood cancer.

About us

DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to fighting blood cancers like leukaemia and other blood-related illnesses by inspiring people around the world to register as potential bone marrow and blood stem cell donors. DKMS provides patients with a second chance at life, working closely with their families from diagnosis to transplant and beyond. The donor journey begins with a swab of the cheek that takes less than two minutes and can be the action that leads to a lifesaving transplant.

Other ways to help: Organise a registration event

We are also seeking people to organise events to help to register potential lifesavers. Registering as a potential blood stem cell donor takes less than 10 minutes. It entails a cheek swab and reviewing the eligibility criteria. For more information please contact donor@dkms.org.uk. You can also arrange a virtual registration event.

Make a gift
Each new potential donor costs us £40 to register. You can help cover our costs by making a gift today.

Ready to become a potential lifesaver? Join the register now