On February 12 in Cape Town, DKMS Africa made history by earning a qualifier spot at the 2025 Marketing Achievement Awards (MAAs). As a nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancer and blood disorders, DKMS Africa is the first independent nonprofit to receive this recognition. This milestone marks a significant moment as the organization’s marketing efforts are acknowledged at an industry award level.
DKMS is an international nonprofit focused on combating blood cancer. Founded in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf in Germany, the organization has expanded globally, registering over 12 million donors and facilitating more than 110,000 life-saving stem cell transplants.
With offices in Germany, the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, and India, DKMS remains committed to increasing access to stem cell donation. Their research division and the DKMS Life Science Lab are setting new global standards in stem cell donor typing and transplantation.
At the 2025 MAAs, DKMS Africa earned a qualifier spot in three key categories: Excellence in Integrated Marketing, Excellence in Purpose-Led Marketing, and Excellence in Resourceful Marketing. This recognition showcases the effectiveness of their marketing strategies in raising awareness, educating the public, and encouraging life-saving action.
Marketing plays a crucial role in educating communities and inspiring action. Palesa Mokomele, Head of Corporate Communications and Community Engagement at DKMS Africa, emphasised the impact of their awareness campaigns following the announcement of the 2025 qualifiers.
In South Africa, thousands of people are affected by blood cancer and related disorders. Our innovative marketing efforts have helped educate the public about the urgent need for stem cell donors. Through targeted campaigns, we’ve reached diverse audiences and ensured that potential donors understand how they can save lives.
Finding a matching stem cell donor is extremely rare, only 1 in 100,000 patients find an ideal match. Recognising this challenge, DKMS Africa has worked tirelessly over the past three years to increase the number of registered donors, improving patients’ chances of receiving life-saving transplants.
Strategic marketing efforts have been key to dispelling myths about stem cell donation and encouraging more people to register as donors. Mokomele further said that:
Our marketing ensures the right message reaches the right people at the right time. Every new donor registration brings hope to patients battling blood-related diseases. The more we educate and engage, the better the future looks for those in need.
As DKMS Africa continues its mission to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities, this recognition by the Marketing Achievement Awards reinforces the power of marketing in driving positive change.
While the fight against blood cancer is far from over, through sustained awareness and community support, DKMS Africa is making a real difference, one donor at a time.
