Murcia Sets Bone Marrow Donor Record

The Region of Murcia said on May 14 that a four-day bone marrow donor drive had brought in more than 2,100 new registrants, taking the regional total to 30,000 and meeting a year-end target months early. The result came from events tied to the second Regional Solid Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Day and the third “Match Región de Murcia” campaign, according to the regional health department. (murciasalud.es) Officials said the campaign ran from May 10 to May 13 across hospitals, primary care centers, universities, the 061 emergency service and the Regional Blood Donation Centre. The health department said the total more than doubled the results of the previous two editions. ### How big was the increase in donor registrations? More than 2,100 Murcia residents registered as new bone marrow donors during the 2026 campaign, the regional health department said. That lifted the total donor registry in the region to 30,000, a figure the Regional Transplant Coordination had expected to reach by the end of 2026. The previous campaign editions brought in 1,000 new donors in 2023 and 950 in 2025, according to Murcia’s health authorities. On that comparison, the 2026 result was more than double either of the prior tallies. (murciasalud.es) ### Where did the registrations come from? The campaign operated through 10 public hospitals, 44 health centers, the 061 emergency medical service, the blood donation centers in Murcia and Cartagena, UCAM campuses in Murcia and Cartagena, the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, the El Palmar health campus and the Espinardo campus, the health department said. (murciasalud.es) Samples from volunteers were collected during the campaign window and at dedicated public events. Health authorities said hospitals and primary care centers accounted for 1,200 of the new donors. (murciasalud.es) UCAM added 201, the 061 service added 109, the Regional Blood Donation Centre added 123 across Murcia and Cartagena, the Polytechnic University of Cartagena added 44, and the University of Murcia added 56 across two campuses. ### Which places in Murcia stood out most? Lorca led several of the campaign’s local tallies, according to regional data. The Lorca health area registered 317 donors, ahead of Caravaca de la Cruz with 276, Reina Sofía with 223 and Los Arcos with 123. (murciasalud.es) Lorca-San Diego health center recorded 151 donors, the highest total among individual health centers named by the regional government. Officials also highlighted registrations from Torre Pacheco, Totana, Caravaca de la Cruz, Águilas, Cehegín, Bullas and Santomera. (murciasalud.es) Barranda, a hamlet in Caravaca de la Cruz with fewer than 800 residents, registered 28 donors at a table set up in the town square, the health department said. Officials cited that example as evidence of broad local participation. (murciasalud.es) ### What role did the public run play? More than 3,000 people took part in the “Corre para dar vida” fun run on May 10 in Murcia, according to the regional health department. The race started at the blood donation center and ended at the Plaza de Toros de Murcia as part of the broader donor campaign. (murciasalud.es) The health department said 350 people registered as bone marrow donor candidates through the event. Officials presented the run as one of the main public-facing pieces of the campaign. (murciasalud.es) ### How does this compare with Murcia’s recent donor base? Murcia had 26,834 registered potential bone marrow donors as of May 13, 2025, according to the regional government. At that time, officials said the region was running a youth-focused marrow donation campaign for people aged 18 to 40. (murciasalud.es) In September 2025, the regional government said Murcia had surpassed 27,000 potential donors and ranked third among Spain’s autonomous communities by bone marrow donor rate per 100,000 inhabitants, behind Navarra and Extremadura. The May 2026 result pushed the registry to 30,000, according to the latest regional figures. (murciasalud.es) May 10 to May 13 were the key dates for the 2026 drive, and the Regional Blood Donation Centre, hospitals, health centers and universities were the named participants in the campaign’s next registration steps, according to Murcia’s health department. (carm.es) The regional government said donor sign-ups continue through those institutions beyond the event window. (murciasalud.es) (carm.es)