Together for the second chance at life: W:O:A and DKMS

Metalheads, 

please meet Florian. He is a regular W:O:A visitor and recently reached out to us asking for a little support with his own little registration campaign for the DKMS in order to find stem cell donors for people suffering from blood cancer. In short, he wanted to call on everyone to register and help saving lives. 

During the conversation with him, two things became apparent. First, he grew up in a metal family. "We all went to see Rammstein together, for example," he says. His father in particular turned him on to that type of music. " He loves to listen to Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, that's what influenced me since I was a child. And my mum loves Status Quo, I saw them live at Wacken back in 2017."

The other thing we asked him was why he is committed to the DKMS. He told us that he knew about DKMS from his visits to Wacken and that he always thought their work was both good and important. And only then did he mention, almost incidentally, that his father is in need of help as well. " My dad was diagnosed a few weeks ago, out of nowhere, as it were. It was soon apparent that he needed a stem cell donation. I am starting the registration appeal for everyone who is in the same situation as us. That is also my father's wish. Each and every one can help. Please join us!". 

Together for a second chance at life: W:O:A and DKMS

W:O:A has been supporting the work of the DKMS since 2014. Since the beginning of the partnership, more than 10,000 metal fans have already registered as potential stem cell donors. 58 of them have even donated stem cells - giving patients all over the world a second chance at life. "The DKMS rocks because it gives seriously ill people a second chance! Cancer can strike anyone and then it can save your own life if someone somewhere in the world is willing to help," says Thomas Jensen. "Now Florian's father and all other searching patients need our help. Guys, I'm counting on you, register and maybe save a life soon! The metal family leaves no one alone." 

Congratulations on 30 years in the fight against blood cancer

On 28 May 2021 - the annual World Blood Cancer Day - DKMS celebrated its 30th birthday. Started as a non-profit stem cell donor centre in Germany in 1991 due to personal concern, the message of the now internationally active organisation is: blood cancer knows no borders. "30 years of DKMS - you can be proud of what you have achieved," says Thomas Jensen. "Together with you, we are proud to have been a partner since 2014 and to have already achieved 10,000 registrations. That makes us happy and joyful. Many thanks to you, congratulations DKMS."

This is how registration works

In light of the Corona pandemic, registration campaigns are currently not taking place at a central venue as usual, but have been conducted online since March 2020. In order to protect everyone's health as best as possible, DKMS is sticking to replacing public events on site with online campaigns until further notice. Anyone who is healthy and between 17 and 55 years old can help Florian's father and all other patients and order the registration documents at home with just a few clicks via www.dkms.org 

Registration is quick and easy: with the help of three medical cotton swabs and detailed instructions, as well as a declaration of consent, everyone can take a cheek swab themselves after receiving the kit and then send it back by post so that the tissue characteristics can be determined in the laboratory. Donors who have already registered do not have to participate again. Once recorded, the data is available to patients worldwide. It is particularly important that the cotton swabs are returned promptly after the cheek swab has been taken. Only when the tissue characteristics have been determined in the laboratory are donors available for the worldwide search.