BS RAWAT
BENGALURU: Over 300 students from RV College of Engineering who have registered themselves as a blood stem cell donors, have thanked donors across the world to mark World Marrow Donors Day.

On the occasion, DKMS Foundation conducted an awareness and registration drive at the college to highlight the need for stem cell donation in India and encourage fellow students to register themselves as life savers for blood cancer and related disorder patients.

“This campaign increases the need for more and more people of Indian ethnicity to register themselves as a potential stem cell donor and help save a life. Every registrant represents hope for all patients and the assurance that they are not alone in their fight with cancer,” said Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India.

Mr Ramachandrasriharsha, a donor, said, “After I registered as a blood stem cell donor I was committed since beginning and finally getting that call was a big surprise and unexpected as well. The whole procedure was very smooth.”

He appeals to everyone to come forward and register as a blood stem cell donor and give someone a second chance at life!

“We are forever indebted to millions of potential blood stem cell donors around the world. Their altruism is a reminder that the capacity for human kindness is boundless. Today, and every day, we thank you for being a light in the darkness and a difference in the lives of so many”, opined Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO of DKMS.

Every 5 minutes, someone in India receives the shattering news that they have been diagnosed with blood cancer, Thalassemia or Aplastic Anemia. Apart from that, every year, of about the 80,000 donor searches initiated across the globe, India has one of the highest ratios of searches that do not result in blood stem cell transplant.