For many this is just unthinkable, but each year thousands of South Africans (mostly children and teenagers) have to face this terrifying reality.

Fortunately, life-threatening blood disorders such as leukaemia, aplasia, immune deficiencies, inborn errors of metabolism, and other new indications such as auto-immune disorders can now be treated.

Treatment, however, entails a bone marrow/stem cell transplant from a willing donor and although it is sometimes possible for relatives to offer the closest matches, 75% of patients will not have a suitable sibling and will have to start their search for a matching non-related donor.

Where to start?

To facilitate this daunting search, bone marrow registers in different countries hold tissue type information of volunteers who have provided small blood samples for testing and recording.

Sadly, the chance of finding a matching donor is just 1 in 100 000!

The odds are even more against South African sufferers due to the fact that our rainbow nation has more unique combinations of tissue types. Ethnic origin is important when matching donors and patients. The “markers” that are tested when searching for a match are genetically inherited and often unique to a particular race.

It is therefore very important that South Africa has its own bone marrow registry and the larger that registry, the greater and faster the chance of finding a perfect match.

Bone marrow stem cell donor reference

English language donor leaflet	Sotho language donor leaflet
Afrikaans language donor leaflet	Zulu language donor leaflet
Xhosa language donor leaflet

To become a bone marrow donor you need to be:

• Committed to help anyone (not just the person who motivates you to join)
• Between 18 – 50 years of age
• In general good health (with no history of hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases)
• Weigh over 50 kg

Do not register as a bone marrow stem cell donor if:

• You think you might need a test for HIV, Hepatitis –B or C.
• You have injected yourself (even once) with illegal or non-prescription drugs.
• You have taken money or drugs for sex.

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Click here for Donor Recruitment Policy.

How You Can Join the Registry - It's Simple!

• You need to call The Sunflower Fund Toll Free Number 0800 12 10 82 weekdays 9am-1pm or 2-4pm so that we can make sure that you meet the criteria, process your  Sunflower/SABMR Registration Form and Reference Number and direct you to the closest Donor Recruitment Clinic.
• There you will give them the completed form and they will take a small blood sample – about two teaspoons.
• Your blood sample is then analysed (called “tissue typing”) and put on the national database. The tissue typing test is very costly. Funds are limited and we are asking those who can afford to, to make a donation towards this cost.
• Donors will in due course be sent a donor card by the SABMR.  Donors will only be called back to donate stem cells if they are ever a perfect match for a patient. The odds of being a match are about 1: 100 000 which is why we need as many donors as possible.
• The donation procedure is minor with little discomfort – click here to read a full description of the whole procedure.

Thank you for being prepared to "Share a little, to Save a Life"