Donating bone marrow is a life-saving act, and it all starts with a quick and easy cheek swab. Registering takes just minutes, and you can do it at any of our events or from the comfort of your home. If you’re a match, the donation process is simpler than you might think— most donations are done through a blood transfusion, similar to giving plasma. That’s it. With one selfless act, you could save a life
Order a free cheek swab kit from Gift of Life or visit one of our events to register in person.
Follow the instructions in your kit to swab the inside of your cheek to collect a DNA sample.
Use the prepaid envelope provided to return your swab sample to Gift of Life for testing.
Your genetic information is added to the national registry. If you’re a match for a patient, Gift of Life will contact you.
If selected, you'll undergo a health screening before donating peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) or bone marrow, depending on the patient's needs.
Our partners, including hospitals and medical centers, are vital in ensuring that patients receive the care and resources they need throughout their bone marrow transplant journey. By partnering with us, you help expand access to life-saving treatments and support patients in their fight for a second chance at life. Together, we’re stronger in the fight against blood cancers
As a board member of Get Redd Foundation, you’ll play a key role in guiding our mission, supporting strategic growth, and helping families facing bone marrow transplants and rare blood disorders. Board members meet once a month in person for meaningful conversations and decision-making, and are added to our active group chat where we share daily updates, wins, and ways to support in real time. You’ll be part of a passionate, purpose-driven team that values collaboration, creativity, and community. If you’re ready to use your voice, network, and leadership to drive change—we’d love to have you at the table.
Whether you’re looking to support a specific event or make a meaningful impact year-round, we’re honored to welcome you as a partner in our mission. Sponsorships help fuel our Give Hope with Get Redd campaign, which directly supports patients during their treatment journeys—covering essential needs like transportation, meals, emotional wellness, and care resources.
You can choose to:
• Sponsor an Event
• Support our ongoing mission year-round
Sponsor Benefits May Include:
• Tickets to our upcoming event for friends and family
• Recognition on event materials, website, and social media
• Opportunity to speak or present at select events
• Logo placement on signage, press releases, and digital invites
• Vendor space or booth access (for event sponsors)
• Inclusion in our donor newsletters and campaign updates
• Direct impact stories showcasing how your support helped a patient
Event-specific benefits vary based on sponsorship tier and event structure. We’re happy to customize a package that aligns with your goals. Want to explore sponsorship options?
Ivette Esquerdo was just 16 years old when she selflessly donated her stem cells to her sister, Liudmila, giving her a second chance at life. She and her family felt profoundly blessed that she was a perfect match. Reflecting on her experience, Ivette describes the donor process as simple, painless, and, most importantly, life changing. For those with healthy cells, the downtime is minimal—almost nonexistent—but for patients in need, the impact is immeasurable, offering them hope and a renewed future.
Beyond her donation, Ivette remains deeply committed to the cause. She volunteers her time with Get Redd, actively raising awareness and educating others about the importance of stem cell donation. Through her advocacy, she hopes to inspire more people to register as donors and make a lasting difference in the lives of those battling rare diseases.
Liudmila Esquerdo is a woman of Christian faith who has made it her purpose to help others through their journey. She was once a vibrant, passionate dancer whose energy lit up every room she entered. But in 1995, everything changed when unexplained bruises and crushing fatigue became a daily struggle. At just 19 years old, Liudmila was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. The diagnosis sent her into a battle for survival, and she urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. Finding a matching donor was no easy task, but in a miracle that would shape the future, Liudmila’s only sister, Ivette, was the perfect match, giving her a second chance at life.
Surviving the transplant was only the beginning. Liudmila transformed her experience into a mission: to raise awareness, provide support for families, advocate for life-saving donors, and fund critical research. Her journey from patient to powerful advocate led her to establish her life’s purpose, Get Redd Foundation, where her passion for helping others continues to ignite change. Liudmila’s belief is simple, yet profound: One match can save a life.
Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is an extremely rare and life-threatening condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the bone marrow, leading to dangerously low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This causes extreme fatigue, a weakened immune system, and a heightened risk of bleeding and infections.
For many patients with SAA, the only chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant (BMT). This procedure involves replacing the damaged or nonfunctioning bone marrow with healthy marrow from a donor, often a sibling. But the path to a successful bone marrow transplant is grueling, and the treatment required is nothing short of intense.
Once the bone marrow transplant is complete, the recovery process can take months, as the new bone marrow begins to grow and produce blood cells. It’s a long, difficult journey, but for many, it’s the only chance for a life beyond the disease. This is when we celebrate the patient’s second birthday. For Liudmila, her rebirth took place on July 24th, 1995.
