Giants Support Stem Cell Testing

At Friday’s (8 December) Organ Donation-focused Belfast Giants game, head over to The Bridge to assist DKMS with a quick swab test to become a potential blood stem cell donor.

DKMS are an international charity dedicated to fighting blood cancer and blood disorders. They provide patients with a second chance at life, working closely with them and their families from diagnosis to transplant and beyond.

The donor journey begins with a swab of the cheek that takes two minutes and can, quite literally, be lifesaving.

Over 2,000 people each year in the UK are in need of a blood stem cell transplant, however, just 3% of the UK’s population are registered as potential donors. For more information on DKMS, please click here.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

If you're available and interested in making a difference, here's how you can take part and what you need to know:

Go to The Bridge on Friday's game, from doors open (6pm) and in-between both period breaks, where our volunteers will be ready to take you through the quick and easy process to begin:

• Step 1: Answer a few health questions to make sure you are safe to donate.
• Step 2: Swab your cheeks. Our volunteers will be on hand to guide you through this process, which will take only a few minutes.
• Step 3: We then send your swabs to the DKMS laboratory, where you are then added to the register as a potential donor for patients worldwide.
• Step 4: If you are a potential match, the DKMS team will be in touch.

Also, at the game on Friday, we will facilitate organ donation discussions on The Bridge.

DONOR ELIGIBILITY

To check eligibility for becoming a donor, please click here.