Register to donate stem cells and
Rep Your Flag celebrates culture, community, and identity. The ACLT attends events that bring together people from many backgrounds, and this campaign highlights the importance of where you come from.
When it comes to stem cell donation, patients are far more likely to find a match from someone who shares their ethnic background. That means someone repping the same flag as you could one day be your lifesaving donor.
There is only a 2% chance you will go onto donate stem cells, the chances are small but the impact if you do go onto donate is life-changing.
We work alongside our partners Anthony Nolan and DKMS, who have stem cell registers. We are simply a community voice, that helps educated Black and minority groups the importance of stem cell donation to get them on the register.
If you are from outside of the UK you can find your stem cell register here.
Anthony Nolan and DKMS are our trusted partners. They manage the registries that give people the chance to become lifesavers.
Visit their websites below to begin your registration. After signing up, you’ll receive a home swab kit. Simply swab your mouth using the three swabs provided, send it back, and you’re officially on the register.
Adesayo, is a sickle cell and blood donation advocate. From Nigera, she repped her flag by donating stem cell’s to her sister with sickle cell.
Asia was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. From Somalian and Moroccan heritage, she had a autologous stem cell transplant which means she received her own stem cells.
What you need to know about stem cell (bone marrow) donation...
The best chance of survival for someone living with blood cancer or a blood disorder, is for a matched donor to donate their stem cells (bone marrow). A genetic stem cell match could be the last option to save someone’s life.
According to NHS, Blood and Transplant, only 37% of transplant recipients from minority ethnic backgrounds receive the best stem cell donor match from an unrelated donor, compared to nearly 72% for Caucasian people.
ACLT works in partnership with organisations like Anthony Nolan, DKMS, and NHS Blood & Transplant to get more people to register who are of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage.
The ‘markers’ that are tested when matching a suitable donor are genetically inherited and often unique to a particular race. Therefore, patients who are looking for a stem cell transplant have a greater chance of finding a match with stem cell donors of a similar ethnicity.
ACLT think it is important for everyone to register to help grow the registers, so no matter your ethnicity we welcome you to register with us.
Hear Justin's stem cell donation journey...
Justin registered in 2005 due to a campaign for DJ Swing. A few years later, he gave a stranger a second chance at life by donating his Bone marrow.
