The ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union and ACT Brumbies are proud to support Strength to Give Australia for this Saturday's ACT Rugby Grand Finals Day at Viking Park, Wanniassa.
Strength to Give is the donor-facing brand of the registered charity, Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR). The organisation's purpose is to ensure bone marrow donation is able to meet the needs of patients requiring a stem cell transplant in Australia.
This Saturday, Strength to Give will give attendees aged between 18-35 the opportunity to register as a blood stem cell donor. A simple cheek swab is now all it takes to find your match and possibly save the life of a critically-ill patient living with blood cancer.
Every 27 minutes, someone in Australia is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many, their only hope for survival is finding a blood stem cell donor.
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In late 2020, Hayley was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Months later, during the peak of COVID lockdowns, she received a stem cell transplant from her brother.
In May this year, Hayley was notified that she had relapsed, almost 3 years after her initial transplant. Another blood stem cell transplant is now on the cards, meaning she will need to find a match from an unrelated donor.
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ACT Brumbies' Competitions & Rugby Services Manager Mat Vowles is pleased to partner with Strength to Give for the ACT Rugby Grand Finals.
"We're pleased to partner with Strength to Give for the biggest day in ACT Rugby's calendar."
"It is an important cause we feel all Australians should be aware of."
"We understand Australians struggle to find a matching donor and we hope Canberrans and the rugby community are able to provide help this weekend," said Vowles.
One of the most common misconceptions about stem cell donation is that it's extremely painful. This fear often discourages potential donors. We’ve included this myth-busting fact here to help address that concern. Feel free to use it to reassure people that the donation process is much simpler and less intimidating than they might imagine.
Only 0.2% of the eligible Australian population (18-35 y.o.) are registered as donors. Over 80% of donations for Australian patients currently come from overseas, highlighting the urgent need for more Australian donors of all ethnicities.
If you’re aged between 18-35 and would like more information or interested in registering as a stem cell donor, visit https://strengthtogive.org.au/brumbies today by ordering your free cheek swab kit online.
Or visit the Strength to Give marquee at Viking Park on Saturday during the ACT Rugby Grand Finals Day.
Connect with Strength to Give today!
- Website: strengthtogive.org.au
- Instagram: strength2give
- Facebook: strength2give
- LinkedIn: Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
- Tiktok: strength2give
