Every year, thousands of adults and children need marrow/blood stem cell transplants - a procedure which may be their only chance for survival. Although some patients have a genetically matched family member who can donate, about 70% do not. The patients' lives depend on finding an unrelated individual with a compatible tissue type - often within their own race - who is willing to donate marrow or blood stem cells.

Since 1987, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has facilitated more than 20,000 unrelated marrow transplants. Through BloodSource, more than 68,000 volunteers have given blood samples to join NMDP's registry of potential donors. As of May 2006, a total of 507 local individuals were matched with patients and have donated their marrow or blood stem cells.