Fight against leukemia

17.11.2009 17:08

DKMS and Gothaer cooperate

Every 45 minutes in Germany a child or adult becomes ill with blood cancer (leukemia). For many patients one is
Stem cell donation is then the only chance for life. The DKMS German bone marrow donor database and the Cologne insurer want to increase this chance together.

“As a large employer, it is natural for us to assume social responsibility and support DKMS in the fight against leukemia,” says Gothaer’s human resources director
Dr. Herbert Schmitz.

On November 12th, both companies drew positive interim conclusions at a press event in Cologne:

• In the next few days, the eighth Gothaer employee will donate
Stem cells for a leukemia patient, making it the fourth
Donor within just four weeks.
• 660 Gothaer employees nationwide had themselves typed for the world's largest DKMS donor database, 560 of them in the largest company typing campaign to date in Cologne two years ago.

“Collaboration with companies is an important pillar for us. I am very pleased that eight employees at Gothaer have already been able to give a chance at life,” said DKMS Managing Director Claudia Rutt. So far, over 32,000 euros in donations have flowed to the DKMS. Each typing costs DKMS 50 euros. Gothaer also covers the costs of typing its employees.

The probability that two people's tissue feature combinations match is 1:20,000 to 1:several million. That's why it's important that so many people allow themselves to be typecast. “You shouldn’t go through life selfishly,” says 31-year-old Gotha employee Maria Katsapi, who will be donating stem cells in the next few days. She had herself typed two years ago and is happy that she will soon be able to help.