Together we can save lives
Founded in 1986, the Stefan Morsch Foundation saves lives by finding suitable stem cell donors for blood cancer patients. To achieve our goal we need you.
The problem
Blood cancers like leukaemia affect the haematopoietic system. If chemotherapy or radiation don’t work, stem cell transplantation is the only chance of survival for many patients.
However, in order to transplant stem cells successfully and safely, a donor must have the same genetic characteristics (called HLA typing) as the patient receiving the transplant.
Of those affected only
1 in 4
finds a suitable donor among their relatives. The majority of patients are depending on a donation from someone who is not related to them.
For
1 in 10
Every year more than
patients worldwide need a stem cell transplant.
The more people register as a stem cell donor, the better the chances of finding a match for a patient in need.
Register to our database
We need stem cell donors - now more than ever!
Every year, we have to delete the data of around 15,000 potential stem cell donors - for reasons of age or health, for example. In order to find a suitable donor for all leukaemia and blood cancer patients, it is therefore important that as many people as possible are registered.
Our target
is to expand our database of volunteers to save more lives.
So far, the Stefan Morsch Foundation has registered more than
in our database.
Become a life saver
Register online in our stem cell donor database.
Answer some questions about your health and enter contact details.
We will send you a kit for a saliva sample, which you can easily do yourself. Then you simply send the package back to us.
Help your genetic twin and register as a stem cell donor today!
Register to our database
Be a life saver
You’ll be informed if there is a request for a stem cell donation.
A small amount of blood is taken for control and examined in the laboratory.
A preliminary medical examination is carried out and a transfusion physician provides information. The date for the stem cell donation is fixed.
After the donation, we will arrange contact with your recipient - if you both want to and if it is legally permitted in your recipient's country.
You usually donate stem cells as an outpatient or during a short stay in hospital.
Our average cost to register a new donor is 40 EUR.
Move the slider to see how much it costs to register a given number of donors.
1 donor
40 €
Financial donations also help us to provide counselling and financial support for patients and families in need.
Make a financial donation
Here are some of the people helping us to save lives:
Christian Krumwiede
“I have donated stem cells twice for my recipient. You don't have to be afraid, dare and register. Be brave, be a donor. Let us save lives together, it is worth it.”
Direnc Sagir
“As a young person you rarely have the opportunity to help others. After the donation I was flashed with the feeling of having done something good. This feeling was priceless.”
Sarah Marx
“I would donate again at any time, because for me it was only a small operation, but for someone else it meant hope for a lifetime. Help – and give everyone a chance to live!”
And here are some of the people helped by a stem cell transplant:
Desiree Bernarding
“The diagnosis of leukaemia felt like my death sentence. But look at me: I am alive! You can do that by registering!”
Mara Dauer
“Suddenly my life was gone. My donor gave me a new one. I can't wait to meet her in person.”
Vincent Kammerloher
“Markus has not only become my stem cell donor, but also an important friend. Without him I would not exist today.”
How we’ve helped
On average, about
people from our database donate stem cells to a blood cancer patient every year.
Mouse over white and orange hotspots to learn more
registrations
registrations
registrations
registrations
registrations
registrations
registrations
registrations
84
1984 Stefan Morsch
Stefan Morsch is the first European to cure leukaemia by transfering stem cells from an unrelated donor. Six months later, Stefan dies unexpectedly of pneumonia. At this point in time, there is no data base in Germany for the search of a suitable stem cell donor.
85
86
1986 Founding of the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung
Hiltrud and Emil Morsch establish the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung, Germany's first stem cell donor data base, with the help of numerous supporters – and thus make Stefan's dream come true. Many people have heard about his fate and turn to the foundation in the hope of help – for themselves or relatives.
87
88
89
90
91
92
1992 Participation in the foundation of the ZKRD
The Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung plays a decisive role in the establishment of the Central Bone Marrow Donor Registry Germany (ZKRD) – and thus creates a unit in which the data of all potential stem cell donors registered in Germany are recorded.
93
94
95
96
97
1997 Opening of the HLA Laboratory
The foundation opens its own HLA laboratory in which the blood and saliva samples of newly registered donors are examined for their genetic tissue characteristics.
98
99
00
01
2001 Morsch couple receives Order of Merit
Hiltrud and Emil Morsch are awarded the Order of Merit of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate: for their pioneering work in stem cell and bone marrow transplantation.
02
2002 Support for the transplant unit at the Charité Berlin
With the help of the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung, the transplant unit at the Charité of the Benjamin Franklin University Hospital in Berlin is completed.
03
2003 Creation of a national database for Luxembourg
On behalf of the competent authorities in the neighbouring country of Luxembourg, the foundation starts to open a national donor file. Now people there can also register as potential stem cell donors for their fellow citizens.
04
05
2005 Opening of the Apheresis Unit
The foundation's apheresis unit for peripheral stem cell collection opens at Birkenfeld.
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
2012 Opening of the Stefan-Morsch-Station in Flensburg
At the Malteser Krankenhau St. Franziskus in Flensburg, the Stefan-Morsch-Station opens - a state-of-the-art stem cell therapy unit.
13
14
2014 Death of Hiltrud Morsch
The founder of the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung, Hiltrud Morsch, dies. Her fight against leukaemia is continued.
15
16
2016 Susanne Morsch becomes 1st Chairperson
Emil Morsch resigns from the foundation's Board of Directors and moves to the Board of Trustees. This elects Susanne Morsch as the new Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. Together with Bruno Zimmer, she continues to manage the Foundation to this day.
17
18
19
2019 Opening of the Stefan-Morsch day clinic in Tübingen
Ceremonial naming of the "Hämato-oncological Day Clinic Stefan Morsch" at the University Clinic for Children and Youth Medicine Tübingen.
20
21
2021 35th anniversary
For 35 years, the employees of the Stefan-Morsch-Stiftung have been taking the worldwide fight against leukaemia and the help for those affected personally. The wish of a 16-year-old boy to find a suitable stem cell donor for other people with blood cancer and thus give them a chance for a cure has given rise to a nationally and internationally active donor data base, the aim of which has not changed to this day - to find the best possible donor for every patient.
22
23
24
25
26
40th anniversary of the foundation.
Helping people in need is a personal matter for us
Susanne Morsch, sister of Stefan Morsch and CEO of the Stefan Morsch Foundation, is committed in taking an active role to help more patients in need - which is why she is personally reviewing every application.
Due to my personal experience, I know how devastating the effects of leukaemia can be - not only on the patient, but on anyone who is involved in the process. It is my uttermost goal to support everyone as best as I can.
How you can help
There are three ways you can help the Stefan Morsch Foundation in their mission to help save the lives of blood cancer patients.
Register for our database
The most effective way to help is to register for our stem cell donation database.
Register online
Support us financially
If you want to help without registering for the database make a financial donation.
Make a financial donation
Spread the
word
word
An effective and easy way to support us is to help spread the word about what we do!
Share this page
Stefan Morsch Stiftung
Dambacher Weg 3 – 5
55765 Birkenfeld/Nahe
E-Mail: » info@stefan-morsch-stiftung.de
Tel.: +49 6782 9933-0
Fax: +49 6782 9933-22