The demands for a transplant among minority populations are disproportionately high, while traditional minority representation among donations is not meeting the need. National Donor Day is a time to raise awareness of the heightened need for African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asians & Pacific Islanders to give the gift of life.

Marrow and blood stem cell transplants often require matching certain tissue traits of the donor to the patient. Because some of these traits are unique to people of specific ancestry, the most likely donor match is from the patient's same racial or ethnic group. More donors from diverse racial and ethnic groups are urgently needed.

Read more about the need for minority donors as reported in the Cleveland Free Times by Kevin Hoffman.