Join us in making a life-saving impact

This Black History Month, we’re launching 333 Pledges for 333 Lives – a campaign to address critical health disparities in the Black community by promoting stem cell (bone marrow) donation. In partnership with African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) and Anthony Nolan, we are on a mission to secure 333 pledges to join the stem cell donor register, representing the potential to save 333 lives.

This campaign ties directly into the BHM 2024 theme, Reclaiming Narratives. The story of health inequality and underrepresentation is all too familiar in Black communities, but together, we can rewrite it.

In the UK, people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage have significantly lower chances of finding a matching stem cell (bone marrow) donor compared to a patient from white, northern European heritage. This disparity costs lives. Did you know that stem cell donation is ethnicity-specific, meaning you are likely to find a donor from someone with the same or similar heritage as you? By increasing the number of people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage joining the register, we can begin to address this disparity.

By pledging today, you can help close this gap and give hope to someone in need, reclaiming the narrative around health disparities in the UK.

What’s at stake?

Ethnicity plays a critical role in finding a match, and only 3% of the UK population are registered as stem cell donors. Even more concerning, just 0.5% of those are from mixed or ethnic minority backgrounds. This means that if you sign up to the register, you could become the only match for someone like you who is waiting for lifesaving treatment.

Stem cell donation can save lives for people suffering from blood cancers and disorders, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
With just 333 pledges, we could meet the average number of stem cell transplants expected to take place in the month of October, representing 8% of the UK’s yearly stem cell transplant requirement.

Why it matters

Misinformation, mistrust in healthcare, and cultural taboos have prevented many in the Black community from joining the stem cell register. With our partners, ACLT, a leading charity that highlights the lack of Black African, ethnic minorities on donor registers, and Anthony Nolan, a leading charity in stem cell research, we are dedicated to drawing focus on the severe shortage of potential donors of Black heritage on the stem cell (bone marrow), blood, and organ donor registers. Together, and with your pledge, we’re here to help close that gap.

The ACLT work with donor registries Anthony Nolan and DKMS to highlight the lack of Black African, ethnic minorities on donor registers. Through awareness and support we are dedicated to diversifying these registers so that no one dies waiting for their donor match.

333 Pledges for 333 Lives seeks to challenge misconceptions, build trust, and inspire more people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage to join the donor register, ultimately reclaiming narratives to drive long-term health equity.

What you can do

Pledge today to join the stem cell register, using the form below, and you could be the life-saving match someone is waiting for.

Once you’ve pledged, we’ll guide you on how you can register. Once registered, you’ll remain on the donor list until your 61st birthday, creating a legacy of hope for decades to come. We’re also committed to increasing diversity of leadership across UK public services through our work. Please tick the boxes to hear more about senior job opportunities, event invitations and thought leadership.

How It Works

• Pledge Now: Complete the form to express your commitment to joining the stem cell donor register
• Receive Info: We’ll send you details and a link on how to sign up to the stem cell (bone marrow) donor register and complete your donation
• Save Lives: Once registered and you’ve sent your swab, you’ll be on call to potentially save a life, remaining a donor until your 61st birthday

Why donate stem cells?

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 chance to save someone’s life.
 

Why do we need more people of Black heritage to donate stem cells (bone marrow)?

If you’re from a minority ethnic background, you’re more likely to have a rare or even completely unique tissue type. This means that if you sign up to the register, you could become the only match for someone like you who is waiting for lifesaving treatment.

GatenbySanderson, in partnership with ACLT are raising awareness and collecting pledges to encourage more people to register who are of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage.
 

Can I still pledge to register if I’m not from Black African or Black Carribean heritage?

Yes! We think it is important for everyone to register to help grow the registers, so no matter your ethnicity we welcome you to pledge to register.

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.
 
Have More Questions?

Check out ACLTs FAQs for more information on stem cell donation, any concerns about joining the register and the impact your pledge will have.
 

A Lasting Legacy

This campaign goes beyond Black History Month. 333 Pledges for 333 Lives is about creating sustained social impact, addressing health disparities, and empowering the Black community to reclaim the narrative in healthcare. Your pledge today could be someone’s hope for tomorrow.