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The Challenge for African Americans

A critical need for marrow donors

African Americans are facing a big challenge. Many African Americans fighting diseases like sickle cell anemia, leukemia and lymphoma can’t find marrow donors.

They need more African Americans to step up and join Be The Match marrow registry.

About finding a match

The tissue types used for matching patients with donors are inherited, so patients are most likely to find a match within their own racial or ethnic heritage.

There are 8 million people on the Be The Match Registry®, but only 600,000 -- or 7% -- are African Americans.

More people of African descent are urgently needed on the marrow registry so that more lives can be saved.

Donation facts

If you match a patient, you will be asked to donate in one of two ways. The more common method does not involve surgery. 

Do Something BigSM

Want to Do Something Big? Join Be The Match Registry.

And get the word out:

CTA - Take the First Step
CTA - Steps of Donation
CTA things to consider