Swab Your Cheek, Save a Life: Announcing Our Partnership with DKMS US!
At The Jackson Copeland Foundation, our mission is to improve outcomes and accelerate cures for high-risk leukemia while eliminating the barriers that prevent patients from accessing life-saving care. Today, we are thrilled to announce a brand-new partnership that empowers you to be a direct part of that cure.
We have teamed up with DKMS US, an international nonprofit dedicated to the fight against blood cancer, to host a virtual donor drive. Together, we are asking our incredible community of adventurers, supporters, and advocates to take a few minutes out of their day to do something truly heroic: join the blood stem cell donor registry.
Why the Donor Registry is Crucial
For many patients battling high-risk leukemia, a stem cell transplant (also known as a bone marrow transplant) isn’t just another treatment option—it is often their only chance at a cure. When a patient falls into an intermediate to high-risk category, their medical team will almost immediately put them on track for a transplant if their body can handle it.
However, there is a catch. Unlike blood transfusions, stem cell matching is not based on blood type; it relies on a complex genetic marker system called HLA typing. Because these matches are so specific, many patients cannot find a suitable donor within their own families and must rely entirely on the kindness of strangers around the globe.
There is a patient out there right now waiting for a genetic twin. You could be the exact match they need to survive.
The Myth vs. The Reality: It’s Easier Than You Think
When people hear “bone marrow donor,” they often picture painful, invasive surgeries. We want to set the record straight: joining the registry and donating stem cells is incredibly simple!
- Joining the Registry: It requires absolutely no needles or blood draws up front. The matching process is done through a simple at-home cheek swab kit that you receive and return via mail.
- The Donation Process: If you are identified as a match for a patient in need, the actual donation is usually a non-surgical procedure. Typically, the cells are collected via an IV line through a process called apheresis. It is very similar to donating plasma or platelets: you sit in a comfortable chair, watch a movie or read a book, and let the machine do the work.
Furthermore, if you are called to donate, all costs for the procedure, travel to a collection center, lodging, and even childcare or pet care are completely covered by the donor program.
The Ultimate Adventure: Saving a Life
Jackson saw the world differently, and he lived his 22 years to the absolute fullest. He loved exploring new places, tackling wild adventures, and most importantly, he loved helping people. He was always thinking of others, even during his darkest days.
We know in our hearts that if Jackson were healthy today, he wouldn’t hesitate for a single second to join the registry and donate his stem cells to save a life. He would roll up his sleeve with a smile.
We are asking you to be bold, take action, and face the unknown in honor of Jackson. Because #JacksonWouldGo!
How to Get Your Free Swab Kit Today
Are you between the ages of 18 and 55 and in general good health? If so, you have the power to be the hero in someone’s leukemia story.
Take 5 minutes today to request your free at-home swab kit through our dedicated DKMS portal:
👉 Join the JCF x DKMS Virtual Drive Here!
Once your kit arrives in the mail, simply swab the inside of your cheeks, drop it back in the prepaid envelope, and you will officially be on standby to save a life.
Thank you for standing with us, for fighting for these patients, and for keeping Jackson’s incredible spirit alive. Let’s get swabbing!ing Jackson’s incredible spirit alive. Let’s get swabbing!