More than 100,000 Scots are registered stem cell donors
A study found that 20,318 Scottish residents signed up last year
Last updated 24th Jul 2018
More than 100,000 people in Scotland are registered to become stem cell donors after 20,318 signed up last year.
Scotland saw the highest number of new registrations outside London and the south east of England, according to figures from the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry.
But the charity says men aged under 30 are significantly under-represented, making up just 12% of the UK register.
Fewer donors from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds meanwhile joined the register in 2017.
A stem cell transplant may be the best chance of survival for patients with conditions affecting their blood or bone marrow, with doctors giving them new, healthy stem cells via their bloodstream for the creation of red and white blood cells and platelets.
More than 2,200 searches for a lifesaving transplant were made last year.
Anthony Nolan chief executive Henny Braund said: "Despite a pleasing increase in the number of young men joining the stem cell donor register, the fact remains that 12% of the register provides 57% of all stem cell donations.
"We have had great success working with schools, colleges and universities across the UK through our Marrow and The Hero Project programmes - and will continue to focus our efforts in this area to meet our ambitious target of recruiting 100,000 potential donors a year by 2020, of whom 20,000 are from minority ethnic backgrounds."