What's my type? boosts bone marrow donor numbers

A recent What’s My Type? event held at Wellington’s Taita Cricket Club in October resulted in 20 people signing up to the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Wellington Donor Relations Team Leader Sarah Field says growing the pool of blood and plasma donors in New Zealand is vital, and so is expanding the country’s Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

“Giving people the chance to find out their blood type is an effective way to engage them and grow their understanding of the difference donors can make to others’ lives,” she says.

The people who signed up in Taita were young, with diverse ethnic backgrounds – a critical factor because it improves the chances of a match being found for people needing a transplant.

Once you’ve joined the registry there’s no guarantee of being called up to donate. But if you are, you’ll be playing an enormous part in helping to save someone’s life.

The Taita event was jointly hosted by New Zealand Blood Service, the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and IDFNZ - an organisation supporting families struggling with chronic illness relating to Primary Immune Deficiency.