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Melina Bath supports tackling Leukaemia Inc to boost stem cell donors and save lives locally

Melina Bath supports Tackling Leukaemia Inc, urging locals, especially 18 - 35-year-olds, to join the stem cell donor registry and help save lives through community swab events.

By news@gippsland - 22nd October 2025 - Back to News

The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath is supporting the Tackling Leukaemia Inc encouraging locals to join the stem cell donor registry and help in the treatment of blood cancer. The Tackling Leukaemia Inc aims to boost stem cell donor numbers across the country and raise awareness of the need for more First Nations, Māori and Pasifika donors as they often have rare blood types, making it harder to find a matching donor.

Melina Bath ( with Gippsland student Georgia Shell from Forge Creek in the photo ) spoke at St Hilda’s College, inspiring 100 students to join the stem cell register, supporting vital youth-driven donor efforts

Melina Bath ( with Gippsland student Georgia Shell from Forge Creek in the photo ) spoke at St Hilda’s College, inspiring 100 students to join the stem cell register, supporting vital youth-driven donor efforts

Stem cell challenge

The organisation hosts cheek swab events with groups of young adults wanting to join the register to help save lives. The target group for the stem cell register is 18 - 35 year olds as young donors produce healthier stem cells, which leads to better patient survival outcomes.

Ms Bath said leukaemia is an insidious blood cancer that strikes without warning, affecting people regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. "Australia has one of the world’s lowest rates of stem cell donation and we are encouraging more people from all backgrounds to join the registry. I put out a challenge to our local sporting and social groups to contact the Tackling Leukaemia team and host an event to help build the registry."

"Without a suitable stem cell donor match an individual’s chances of recovering from leukaemia is significantly reduced. If you’re found to be a match, the donation process is straightforward, much like plasma donation with no surgery is involved," she said.

Volunteers join registry

Ms Bath was a recent guest speaker at Melbourne University’s St Hilda’s College, Tackling Leukaemia Inc event where she once studied as a student. "It was inspiring to see 100 young regional students enthusiastically volunteer to be swabbed and join the stem cell register, including local Georgia Shell from Forge Creek."

"We know stem cells taken from young adults replicate so much more effectively, so Tackling Leukaemia’s work partnering with grassroots sporting and social clubs is vital. Any local sporting group can host a stem cell registry recruitment event, and I encourage our local clubs to get involved," concluded Ms Bath. For more information or to arrange a Tackling Leukaemia Inc event to help build the stem cell register please visit Tackling Leukaemia website or contact Gadi Bichler on 0407 218 366.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.


Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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