How to Start a Bone Marrow Drive

Every year thousands of people who have cancer have their lives saved with a bone marrow transplant. Finding a donor match is not always easy. Starting a bone marrow drive is a way to find a match for someone needing a bone marrow transplant. It is also a way to recruit potential donors to be placed on a national registry for future matches. Starting a bone marrow drive is not difficult. Plus, it can save lives. Read on to find out how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Contact the National Marrow Donor Program to ask for information on bone marrow drives. They can give you a contact organization in your area to assist with registering the donors at the drive. A small blood sample is taken from potential donors and sent to a lab to determine marrow type.

2. Select a date. If possible, choose a weekend date when more people may be able to attend.

3. Find a location to hold the drive. Contact local civic centers, churches and schools to ask if they would donate space for the bone marrow drive. Most bone marrow drives are held for 3 to 5 hours.

4. Call businesses in your area to sponsor the drive. There may be small expenses involved in holding a bone marrow drive such as renting tables and printing flyers. A sponsoring business can pay for these things.

5. Recruit volunteers. Ask co-workers, friends and family members to donate some time to help at the drive. As part of the donor registration process, donors will fill out a health questionnaire. Volunteers can answer questions, help keep things moving and assist where needed.

6. Promote the bone marrow drive. Call local television and radio stations. Contact your local newspaper. Print up and distribute flyers at community centers, schools and churches.

7. Hold the drive. Arrive early to set up tables, coordinate volunteers and oversee the drive.

Resources

• National Bone Marrow Donor Registry information on donor drives