0This World Blood Cancer Month; Be The Match
World Blood Cancer Month is a global movement to raise awareness for patients diagnosed with blood cancers, and to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor registry.
For many patients, a stem cell transplant is their only chance of survival. But most will not find a matching donor within their family. They rely on someone they have never met.
No two patients experience blood cancer in the same way. Some are still searching, some are in treatment, and some have already found a second chance. But they are all part of the same system. A system that depends on people choosing to register and becoming potential life savers.
This month, we are sharing stories that reflect this reality. Different patients, different journeys, but all connected by the same need: a match.
Claire – A second chance, against the odds
Claire was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome and needed a stem cell transplant to survive. Her first transplant was unsuccessful, leaving her and her family facing uncertainty about what would come next.
But her story did not end there. Her brother stepped forward as a donor, giving her a second chance at life through a haplo-identical transplant. Only around 30% of patients find a matching donor within their family, making stories like Claire’s rare.
This World Blood Cancer Day (28 May), we will be sharing Claire’s full story. It is a story of resilience, family, and what it means to be given another chance when hope feels uncertain.
Zibusiso – Still waiting for a life-saving match
Zibusiso is 11 years old and was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukaemia after months of unexplained symptoms. What started as small changes became something much more serious.
No one in his family was a match. Now, his life depends on finding a stem cell donor he has never met. His story is a reminder of how urgent this need is for many patients.
Max – A global search for a stem cell donor
Max is 15 and lives with a rare blood disorder that could develop into serious blood cancers such as MDS or AML. A stem cell transplant is his best chance at survival.
A match was found, but it fell through. Now, his search has started again, not just locally, but globally.
Finding a match is not limited by borders. The person who could save Max’s life could be anywhere in the world.
Ranveer – Fighting to keep his future
Ranveer is 17 and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia after months of persistent pain. Since then, his life has changed, but his determination has not.
He continues his education, adapts to treatment, and holds onto the future he has always worked towards. A stem cell donor could give him the chance to keep building that future.
This World Blood Cancer Day, register, share, and take action.
Be a potential life saver.
Awareness alone is not enough. Action is what changes outcomes.
You can make a real difference by taking one simple step and encouraging others to do the same.
- Register as a stem cell donor
- Share these stories with your community
- Encourage others to join the registry
If you’re sharing, keep it simple and personal. For example:
“For World Blood Cancer Month, I registered as a stem cell donor. You could be someone’s second chance at life.”
Use the campaign hashtags to help spread the message:
#WorldBloodCancerMonth #UnitedInUniqueness #BeTheMatch #DKMSAfrica
Every new registration increases a patient’s chance of finding a match.
If you are between 17–55, in good health, and living in South Africa, you could be a potential stem cell donor. The process is simple, free, and could save a life.
- Register online
- Receive your swab kit
- Return it and join the stem cell registry