GOOD health is something Chris Baumann thinks everybody deserves a shot at.
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Because of that, he went into the Albury Blood Service more than 14 years ago and signed up to the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
It would be 12 years before the Murray Goulburn Kiewa worker would be called up as a match for someone.
He admitted the donation process was lengthy but said he would do it all again.
“I signed up so I could give someone else the same chance at the life I've got,” he said.
“My mum recently battled breast cancer for a second time and that really hit close to home.
“I'm healthy, so I could see no reason not to donate.
“It was 100 per cent worth it, I'd do it all again at the drop of a hat.”
Mr Baumann got the call in 2014 and was asked to give a secondary blood sample in Albury.
He then went for further testing in Sydney before he was found to be the best match for the recipient.
The procedure Mr Baumann underwent was similar to donating plasma.
The other method, where marrow is extracted from the bone, is used only as a last resort.
About one in 1500 potential donors in Australia will be asked to donate bone marrow or stem cells in any year. Albury Red Cross Blood Service community relations officer Cathy Chapman said most people will never get a call.
“To sign up it’s as simple as us taking an extra tube of blood when you donate,” she said.
“Getting people on the register is really important and we have all the information here for people who want to know more about it.”
Glenroy mother Stacey Lang also wanted to raise awareness of the registry.
Her daughter, Mia Yaldwyn, had to use the database to find a match, which significantly helped with her battle against leukaemia.
“Initially her best match was in America – so the more people who are on the register the better,” Ms Lang said.
“In the end they found her best match was from a cord blood donation.
“This donation saved her life.”
For more information, call 13 14 95 or visit www.abmdr.org.au.