Organized by the Biomedicine Agency, in collaboration with the French Blood Establishment, the national bone marrow donation week aims to promote bone marrow donation to all, which is essential for saving lives.
This fourth edition will therefore put donors in the spotlight. A hymn will be produced for and by them on Monday September 14 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Odeon crossroads, in front of Paris Descartes University.
To participate in this event as well as in the mobilization week, you can go to the website www.dondemoelleosseuse.fr . You will then have the opportunity to contribute to the anthem, vote for the most significant donation promotional video clip and register to become a voluntary donor. Bone marrow donation is truly the great national cause of 2009. Each year in France, 2400 people need a bone marrow transplant, the majority of transplants being possible thanks to the generosity of donors.
What are the conditions for being a donor?
– be in perfect health,
– be at least 18 years old and over 50 years old when registering (even if you can then give up to 60 years),
– respond to a medical interview and take a blood test which will make it possible to know the “HLA characteristics” and to establish the compatibility between the donor and the patient. The donor will only be approached if there is a compatible patient somewhere in need of a bone marrow transplant: it can be fast, happen years later or never.