LINK TO LIFE NETWORK, INC.

When it became evident that minorities represented less than fifteen percent of the total donors registered with the Be The Match Program (BTMP), Link To Life Network, Inc., was established. Link To Life Network, Inc., a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization, was formed in 1992 to assist the NMDP in its efforts to register minority bone marrow donors. Our mission is to increase the opportunity for minorities with life threatening diseases to obtain bone marrow transplants by increasing public awareness of the need for minority potential bone marrow registrants.

Link To Life Network, Inc., has successfully recruited over 1,200 donors annually covering the east coast as far south as Georgia.

Link To Life Network, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit organization. Tax deductible gifts and grants to Link To Life Network, Inc., may be made to support the general purposes of the organization, or they may be designated for a specific purpose as described within our site.

An Official Recruitment Group of the Be The Match Program.

THE NEED FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN DONORS

Each day, thousands of African Americans face a frightening dilemma. They suffer from leukemia, aplastic anemia or other life-threatening blood diseases. For many, their only chance of survival is a marrow or blood stem cell transplant.

These transplants require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and patient. Because these traits are inherited, a patient’s most likely match is another family member. Unfortunately, 70 percent cannot find a match within their own families.

They need an unrelated individual willing to donate healthy stem cells. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Although it is possible for an African American patient to match a donor from any racial or ethnic group, the most likely match is  an African American.

The Be The Match Program (BTMP) created a national education and recruitment initiative called African Americans Uniting for Life. The goal is to recruit more African Americans to become volunteer donors. By reaching the community through the African American and mainstream media, community groups and individuals, large numbers of African Americans have come forward to answer the call for volunteer donors.