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National Marrow Awareness Month is observed every November, dedicating the entire month to highlighting the critical need for bone marrow and stem cell donors. This observance honors the selfless individuals who donate and the transplant physicians who achieve life-saving breakthroughs. Discover ways to support patients, register as a donor, and spread vital awareness.
Want to sponsor National Marrow Awareness Month? Learn how
Expected National Marrow Awareness Month Deals
Throughout National Marrow Awareness Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to life-saving fundraising and donor recruitment. Organizations like Be The Match and DKMS lead global efforts, often partnering with corporations for donation matching programs and public awareness campaigns. Look for community events hosted by American Red Cross, CVS Health, and local hospitals, offering educational resources and opportunities to join donor registries. Many biotech and pharmaceutical companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Genentech, also highlight their research and patient support initiatives. We will update this page with confirmed live events and campaigns as November approaches.
Platform Guide for National Marrow Awareness Month
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #MarrowAwarenessMonth. Share professional insights on research, patient care, or corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #MarrowAwarenessMonth. Share personal stories of survivorship or the impact of donation to inspire community engagement.
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Mention @NatlToday and use #MarrowAwarenessMonth. Post real-time updates on donor drives, new research findings, or advocacy efforts to amplify the message.
National Marrow Awareness Month Hero
E. Donnall Thomas
History of National Marrow Awareness Month
The first human bone marrow transfusion is said to have been given to a patient with aplastic anemia in 1939. The patient required daily blood transfusions, and doctors attempted to raise her leukocyte and platelet count using intravenous injection of bone marrow. In 1956, Barnes and his colleagues published their experiment on two groups of mice with acute leukemia. They noted the ability of the new engrafted immune system to prevent leukemia relapse and the activity of the engrafted immune system against the recipient.
In 1960, the first successful bone marrow transplant took place, which used bone marrow from an identical twin. In 1968, the first successful bone marrow transplant using marrow from a sibling who was not an identical twin occurred. The first registry in the world to recruit unrelated bone marrow donors was created by the Anthony Nolan charity in London, England. In the U.S., the registry to recruit bone marrow donors was established in 1979, which was originally called the National Marrow Donor Registry; it is now renamed ‘Be The Match.’
In the early 1980s, research on autologous transplants, transplants that use patients’ own stem cells instead of donor cells, began, and now autologous transplants are performed more than transplants using donor cells. In 1990, B.T.M. InfoNet was created, which provides patients with information and support before, during, and after the transplant, and it is a big help to the patients.
National Marrow Awareness Month timeline
The first successful bone marrow transplant takes place, which uses bone marrow from an identical twin.
The first successful transplant using bone marrow from an unrelated donor takes place in London, England.
The registry to recruit bone marrow donors is established in the U.S.
Research on autologous transplants, transplants which use patients' own stem cells instead of donor cells, begins.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Marrow Awareness Month
Local businesses can honor National Marrow Awareness Month by hosting donor registration drives or educational events for their employees and customers. Restaurants could offer a special item with a portion of proceeds donated to a bone marrow registry. Retailers can partner with organizations like Be The Match to distribute information or offer incentives for those who register. Emphasize the ease of registration and the profound impact of becoming a potential life-saver.
National Marrow Awareness Month FAQs
When is National Marrow Awareness Month?
National Marrow Awareness Month is observed throughout November 2026, dedicating the entire month to raising awareness about bone marrow and stem cell donation. It’s a crucial time for education and recruitment.
How many people need bone marrow transplants?
Approximately 18,000 patients in the U.S. each year need a bone marrow or cord blood transplant, with many battling life-threatening conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.
How many bone marrow donors are registered?
The Be The Match Registry, one of the largest in the world, includes over 22 million potential donors, yet the need for more diverse donors, especially from ethnic minorities, remains critical to find matches for all patients.
What is the difference between bone marrow and stem cell donation?
Bone marrow donation involves a surgical procedure to extract marrow from the pelvic bone, performed under anesthesia. Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is more common, is a non-surgical process similar to donating blood platelets, where blood is drawn, stem cells are separated, and the remaining blood is returned to the donor.
How to Observe National Marrow Awareness Month
Read about the subject
Read up on the importance of bone marrow transplants and how this procedure can change lives. Research the various possible kinds of transplants and understand the nuances of the process.
Spread awareness about it
There are many people out there who have no idea about bone marrow transplants. You can educate people about this procedure by sharing posts and articles about it on social media.
Become a donor
Donate bone marrow if you are eligible. You will be able to save many lives by doing this.
5 Interesting Facts About Bone Marrow Transplants
Leukemia kills
Leukemia kills more children than any other type of cancer.
A family match is difficult
Around 70% of patients in need of a bone marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in the family.
Donors have requirements
To be a donor in the U.S., a person should be between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health.
Ethnicity is an important factor
The likelihood of finding a donor is 66% for African-American patients, 73% for Asian and Pacific Islanders, 82% for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and 93% for white patients.
Bone marrow donation happens in two ways
In the first method, blood is taken from a donor’s arm and is put in a machine where stem cells are separated and then returned through the other arm; in the second method, marrow cells are extracted from the hip bone.
Why National Marrow Awareness Month is Important
It offers support
Diseases like cancer put most families in deep distress. Learning or relaying information about bone marrow transplants and donations can offer a ray of hope for so many people silently struggling.
It educates people
Many people have very little or no idea about the process of stem cell donation and how it saves lives. This month offers individuals the opportunity to clear their doubts and understand more about the procedure.
It saves lives
This month is dedicated to encouraging people to donate stem cells. It plays a significant part in the lives of people with life-threatening diseases.
National Marrow Awareness Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 1 | Sunday |
| 2027 | November 1 | Monday |
| 2028 | November 1 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | November 1 | Thursday |
| 2030 | November 1 | Friday |
Social Media Tips for National Marrow Awareness Month
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