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27 April 2026  3 min read

DKMS partners with Basketball England to boost blood cancer awareness

DKMS works to get more people registered as stem cell donors, so that anyone who needs a stem cell transplant has equal access to one.

At this year’s NBL Jnr Final Fours in Manchester on 2/3 May, representatives of the charity will be in attendance to give everyone a better understanding of the effects of blood cancer and how stem cell donation can give patients a second chance and even save people’s lives.

DKMS is encouraging people to join the register over the Junior Final Fours weekend.

Anyone aged 16-55 and in general good health can sign up - however, young people (16-25) make the best donors, and transplants from younger donors give patients the best chance of recovery. Young people are underrepresented on the register, but they have the best opportunity to save someone’s life.

DKMS UK spokesperson Bronagh Hughes said:

“We are so grateful to Basketball England for their amazing work putting together this event. For patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, the right person joining the register could give them their life back, and everyone who signs up is increasing their odds.

“Encouraging more people — particularly young people — to join the stem cell register has the potential to save lives. Signing up is quick and easy and can be done in just a few minutes with DKMS UK and Basketball England, or by ordering a kit from the DKMS website.”

BE Events and Competitions Manager Matt Juden said:

“We are delighted to have DKMS attend our Junior Final Fours – the most important competition for young basketball players in the UK – so they can raise awareness of its important work.

“Sadly, cancer affects many people’s lives, yet through awareness and the action of donors it’s possible to have a profound effect on the treatment and recovery from a blood cancer diagnosis.

“We encourage all spectators, parents, guardians, basketball fans and eligible players in attendance to speak to DKMS and if interested get registered as a donor.”

Only 7% of the UK population registered as donors

Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer and for many of those patients, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is their best chance of survival.

Only one in three patients has a matching donor in their family, so most will rely on finding a match from a stranger on the stem cell donor register, but just 7% of the eligible population in the UK are signed up.

At any one time, around 2,000 people in the UK are waiting to find a matching donor, and not everyone will find a match. Registering as a donor is quick and straightforward, it takes just a few minutes and some painless cheek swabs.

Most people who sign up are never called to donate stem cells — the odds are around one in 800 — but if you are a match, you could save a life.

There are lots of misconceptions about stem cell donation, but today, in 9 out of 10 cases donation is a simple, non-surgical procedure, similar to donating blood platelets.

If you aren’t able to attend the event, you can find out more, or order a free swab kit in the post.

Find Out More

Get tickets for the NBL Jnr Final Fours