Tackling Leukaemia Incorporated intends to actively promote the cause of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) among the Pasifika diaspora in Australia, specifically with the emphasis on males in the 18-35 age group (the Target Group).
With restrictions imposed by the government as a result of COVID-19, our original strategy of enlisting the assistance of local Rugby Union clubs to engage with this group was hamstrung by the effective closures of these organisations for the duration of lockdowns in 2021.
It was therefore necessary to employ a broader strategy to achieve our primary aim of recruiting a minimum of 1,000 new donors in the 12-month period (now extended to at least the end of 2022).
The Strength to Give Program that Tackling Leukaemia supports provides a way for our target groups to support finding a cure for leukaemia and other blood cancers for many people.
The program only requires a simple sample of cells that is collected by swabbing the inside of the cheek. This sample is then sent to the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry that can then be matched to a patient who needs a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant.
This matching process might happen on behalf of patients all the time and so a commitment to the registry is so important and we thank you for your involvement. You may never be identified as a match for someone, or you may be one of several potential matches. However, you may be the only one who is a good match and can save a patient’s life.
If you are matched to a patient, there will be several steps before donating that make sure that a donation is safe for both you and the patient.