The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath is supporting the Tackling Leukaemia Foundation encouraging locals to join the stem cell donor registry and help in the treatment of blood cancer.
The Tackling Leukaemia Foundation aims to boost stem cell donor numbers across the country and raise awareness of the need for more First Nations, Māori and Pasifika donors as they often have rare blood types, making it harder to find a matching donor.
The foundation organises and hosts cheek swab events with groups of young adults wanting to join the register to help save lives.
The target group for the stem cell register is 18–35 year olds as young donors produce healthier stem cells, which leads to better patient survival outcomes.
Ms Bath said leukaemia is an insidious blood cancer that strikes without warning, affecting people regardless of gender, age
or ethnicity.
“Australia has one of the world’s lowest rates of stem cell donation and we are encouraging more people from all backgrounds to join the registry.
“I put out a challenge to local sporting and social groups to contact the Tackling Leukaemia team and host an event to help build the registry.
“Without a suitable stem cell donor match an individual’s chances of recovering from leukaemia is significantly reduced.
“If you’re found to be a match, the donation process is straight forward, much like plasma donation with no surgery is involved.”
Ms Bath was a recent guest speaker at Melbourne University’s St Hilda’s College, Tackling Leukaemia Foundation event where she once studied as a student.
“It was inspiring to see 100 young regional students enthusiastically volunteer to be swabbed and join the stem cell register, including local Georgia Shell from Forge Creek,” she said.
“We know stem cells taken from young adults replicate so much more effectively, so Tackling Leukaemia’s work partnering with grassroots sporting and social clubs is vital.
“Any local sporting group can host a stem cell registry recruitment event, and I encourage our local clubs to get involved.”
For more information or to arrange a Tackling Leukaemia event to help build the stem cell register please visit www.tacklingleukaemia.org.au.
