This week, the National Marrow Donor Program^® and Be The Match^® mark another major milestone by reaching 10 million potential bone marrow donors on the Be The Match Registry^®. The registry started with just 10,000 volunteers in 1987; today, it is the largest and most diverse listing of potential marrow donors and cord blood units in the world.

Because of committed registry members, Be The Match has facilitated more than 50,000 transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases.

“Reaching 10 million potential donors is more than a milestone. Each member represents hope to the thousands of patients who search our registry every year,” said Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., chief executive officer of the National Marrow Donor Program. “Words cannot express how grateful we are to our remarkable donors. There is nothing more powerful than giving the gift of life.”

New members continue to join the Be The Match Registry every day, and more donors are needed to help all patients. To learn more about how the registry has grown and important milestones over the last 25 years, watch the video on YouTube.