Type campaign – Stem cell donation: how teenagers save lives

A cancer diagnosis can really throw those affected off track. The road to recovery is long and difficult. When chemotherapy and radiation no longer help, stem cell donation is the only last resort in the fight against leukemia (blood cancer).

“Finding a suitable donor is like winning the lottery,” explains Cemanur Turan from “Give for Life” Leukemia Aid Austria, why it is so important that many people allow themselves to be typed. The genetic tissue characteristics are determined from a blood or saliva sample to check whether they match between donor and recipient. Typical campaigns are therefore organized again and again.

16-year-old organizes aid campaign
The next one will take place on Friday at the Carinthia Relief Organization in Klagenfurt between 12:00 and 17:00. Raphael Dionisio, who was only 16 years old, initiated and organized it. “We once had something like that at school. “I was impressed with how quickly and easily you can become a lifesaver,” says the student. Because he is unfortunately still too young to be typed – donors must be between 17 and 45 years old – he wanted to contribute in this way. “If just one suitable donor is found, results will already be achieved!”

“To date, our organization has performed 161,723 typings and identified 464 donors for patients,” Turan said. 43 life savers come from Carinthia: For example, 19-year-old Selina from St. Georgen recently donated her cells to a man from abroad: “When I got the call, I was very happy that I could possibly save a life,” says Selina. A young Carinthian is currently urgently looking for his genetic twin brother.