Why do we need more people on the register?
We currently give four people another chance to live every day by finding lifesaving matches between registered stem cell donors and those in need of transplants and treatments. But even with over 900,000 people on the register, there are still people who struggle to find a good match, so we urgently need to increase the number and diversity of potential donors.
Who do we need on the register?
Our research has shown that stem cells from younger donors lead to the best transplant outcomes so we sign up people aged between 16 and 30. It’s also important that the recipient finds a good genetic match and as this is often based on ethnicity we need as many people, from as many different backgrounds as possible to sign up. We’re keen to add more male donors too as although 46% of those who go on to donate are young men, they only make up 14% of the register.
How can I help?
There are lots of ways you can help recruit potential donors to the register, both in-person and virtually, and we can help you decide which option works for you. Explore the options below and get in touch to find out more- and if you’re not sure how you can help, please get in touch anyway and we can have a chat! If you’re interested in becoming a more regular volunteer at Anthony Nolan, take a look at our volunteering pages.
In-person donor recruitment events:
In-person recruitment events can be held anywhere - school, work, clubs, or at a local festival. We aim to recruit at least 30 new potential donors each time so if you think you could do this we'll support you all the way to plan, promote and run the event. Find out more about in-person events in our FAQ area.
Letterbox Lifesavers:
This is a simple and flexible way to sign up a smaller number of people to the register. We’ll post you a kit with everything you need to sign up 20 people to the register, over the course of a week. You’ll do a short online training session, and then each applicant posts back their own swabs, so it’s quick and easy for everyone! Find out more here.
Virtual recruitment:
If a physical event isn’t for you, we have a range of resources you can use to encourage people to join the register online. As well graphics and videos you can share on social media, we also have posters you can download and ideas for virtual talks to raise awareness.
If you want to run an event because a friend or family member needs a transplant, please visit our Patient Appeal page which explains how we can help.