Volunteers help boost blood stem cell donor registrations by 43%

Cape Town, November 29, 2023 – In 2023, a group of 61 volunteers recruited over 5,000 stem cell donors to sign up to the DKMS Africa registry. In doing so, they have helped to push the number of new donors to 30,000 in 2023, up from 21,000 in 2022. This is crucial for individuals diagnosed with blood cancers, providing them with a higher chance of accessing a life-saving stem cell transplant.

Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa, explains that receiving a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is often these patients’ only hope for survival. “And, with more donors being recruited, a growing number of patients are now finding matches.”

Speaking in light of International Volunteer Day (IVD), she shares that from these results, it is evident that volunteers have the power to make a massive difference to the world in general and the fight against blood cancer in particular. “We applaud the efforts of the volunteers who have dedicated their time to carrying out registration drives throughout South Africa, inspiring positive change in their communities and beyond. With this year’s IVD theme of ‘The Power of Collective Action: If everyone did’, I can only imagine how much more we could achieve if more people answered the call to volunteer!”

Below, three volunteers share why they opted to join the non-profit organisation’s volunteer programme:

• Driven by a desire to be a catalyst for change, donor turned volunteer, Mzukise Nocuthu realised that this was his chance to do more to make a real difference in people’s lives, offer hope and restore joy where it had been diminished. "I have witnessed the immense challenges faced by blood cancer patients in finding compatible matches, and this struggle is even more pronounced for people of colour. I understand that misconceptions and stigmas persist but through educating people, I am able to help those considering becoming donors to overcome their doubts. Trust me, it all starts with a simple swab, and you never know, tomorrow you might be getting the call that you are a life-saving match for a patient.” Since joining the cause, Nocuthu has single-handedly brought another 20 volunteers on board. “I don't think there's anything more satisfying or more fulfilling than saving someone's life, and that’s exactly what being a volunteer does.”
• Cebo Ximba, whose sister Gugu passed away last year after two prospective donors from overseas fell through, became a volunteer to help grow the local registry and give hope to other patients. This is in line with her late sister’s wishes for more people to educate themselves about blood cancers and register. In an interview shortly before her death, Gugu shared; “You never realise the importance of becoming a donor until it happens to you or to your family.”
• For Olwethu Mkoko, it was losing her grandmother and aunt to cancer that catalysed her to join the volunteer programme. “My biggest achievement as a volunteer has been seeing more blood cancer patients survive and fight the disease by getting their match. But I want the number of cancer survivors to increase. I am very proud of the difference and change I've contributed, but more volunteers are needed to spread the word.”

To join the volunteer programme, contact DKMS Africa on 0800 12 10 82 or via the website www.dkms-africa.org. Applicants will receive training from the organisation to ensure competency in the field. Volunteers will be responsible for creating awareness around the cause, educating the public, recruiting potential donors and swabbing the inside of their cheeks to help determine matches for patients.

“This year’s programme has been a massive success, but we need more people to join if we are to register even more donors and save more lives next year,” concludes Mokomele.