Hope for Matts: Typing campaign in Rostock for urgently needed donation

Hope for Matts: Typing campaign in Rostock for urgently needed donation

Neuer Markt, 18055 Rostock, Deutschland - On May 18, 2025, Rostock experienced an important typing campaign by the German Bone Marks Donation File (DKMS). This event, which took place as part of the 33rd Rostock City Run, should not only draw attention to the important topic of the stem cell donation, but also help specifically. Two patients, Matts and Tom Weilandt, urgently need stem cell transplants. Matts, a boy from Rostock, which was only three years old, was diagnosed with lymph gland cancer on his birthday, while Tom, a 33-year-old family man and former football professional by Hansa Rostock, is again suffering from blood cancer. Both are now in the challenge of finding suitable donors.

The typing campaign was largely supported by various sports clubs, including FC Hansa Rostock. David Muschkatewitz, Matts' father, and Andrea Kupfer, Tom Weilandt's mother -in -law, vividly promoted the support of the population. Healthy people between the ages of 17 and 55 were invited to register in order to possibly be considered as a stem cell donor. For those who could not personally participate, there was the possibility to request a registration set via the DKMS website.

challenges of the stem cell donation

The DKMS is an international non -profit organization that specializes in the support of blood cancer patients. She is working to enable those affected to make a second chance of life through hematopoetic stem cell transplants. People with diagnosis are currently confronted every 12 minutes in Germany, which is a great social challenge. Transplantation centers often struggle to find suitable non -related donors, which is often time -critical.

In recent years, the DKMS has set up a stem Cell Bank to store excess adult stem cells. There are currently 100 Adult Donor Cryopreserved Units (ADCUS) in Kryotanks in Dresden. These units make it possible to ensure the availability of stem cells within a few days.

The importance of timely transplantation

A current nationwide study has also underlined the importance of the timely stem cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloic leukemia (AML). The investigation, which was carried out under the direction of Prof. Matthias Stelljes at the University Hospital Dresden and Münster, shows that a abbreviated treatment time can be advantageous for patients. The therapy standard currently requires intensive chemotherapy of several weeks before a transplant can take place. The new approaches could significantly shorten the inpatient time.

The donor search in Münster usually takes two to three weeks, which is made easier by its own search unit. As soon as a suitable donor is found, the preparatory therapy begins and the transplant can be carried out within one month.

The combination of a committed community, the initiatives of the DKMS and medical research could help to ensure that Matts and Tom get the urgently needed treatment and their chances of healing increase significantly. Mobilized support from the population is of great importance at this crucial moment.