“We need more stem cell donors from the Turkish community because we have so many vulnerable children and adults who need a stem cell transplant. By joining the DKMS stem cell register you could be giving someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder a precious second chance at life,” says Seyyare Beyzade, President of the Turkish Women’s Philanthropic Association of England (TWPA). Seyarre and the Haringey-based TWPA, based in Hornsey in the London borough of Haringey, have teamed up with blood cancer charity DKMS to encourage more people to join the DKMS stem cell register.
In partnership with DKMS, the TWPA are holding a special donor registration event on Friday 6 October 202, between 4pm – 8pm. It will be held at the TWPA’s head-quarters at 4 Willoughby Road, London, N8. Here, anyone aged 17 – 55 years who is in general good health will be able to complete a simple mouth swab and sign up to the DKMS stem cell register.
The TWPA will shortly play host to representatives of the Turkish charity LOSEV, which supports children with leukaemia. LOSEV are bringing a group of children from Turkey who have the potentially life-threatening disease to visit London.
Seyyare adds: “Your support could make all the difference. By joining the DKMS stem cell register, you could be the missing link that offers hope to someone in need.”
DKMS holds the UK’s largest stem cell register. Worldwide, the charity is proud to have given 105,000 people to date around the world a second chance at life, and their families more time with their loved ones. But there’s still a long way to go to meet the demand for lifesaving stem cell donors.
DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde said: “Just 3% of the UK’s population are registered with DKMS as potential donors – and only a tiny proportion of these are from minority ethnic communities. We are committed to working with organisations like the TWPA to change this.”
Anyone unable to attend the event on 6 October can also register online at dkms.org.uk/register
What happens if you’re a match?
Fears around the donation process prevent many people from registering, but these worries are often caused by misconceptions around the donation process. One of the biggest fears is that donating stem cells is an invasive process. In reality, around 90% of all donations are made through a method called peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC), which is similar to blood donation. Blood is passed through a machine that isolates the collects the stem cells. This is an outpatient procedure that is usually completed in around four hours. In just 10% of cases, donors will be required to donate bone marrow. It is carried out under general anaesthetic via a simple needle in the iliac (hip) bone. Bone marrow is extracted from the pelvic bone. This small incision typically heals very quickly and usually you won’t need stitches.