Life cannot be measured by money. Every act of giving may become a ray of light in someone's life. Every registration in the database not only offers patients a second chance in life but also brings hope to families and infuses society with positive energy.
On 30 May 2026, Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) and The Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) jointly held the Bone Marrow Donor Appreciation Event 2026 at Jing Si Hall. The event brought together Grassroots Adviser of Pasir Ris–Changi GRC, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance, and Second Minister for National Development Ms Indranee Rajah; BMDP Chief Operating Officer Ravindran Nagalingam; the BMDP team; bone marrow donors and recipients; Tzu Chi volunteers; and members of the public—all gathered to witness a great relay of love that transcends blood ties and extends lives.
In her address, Ms Indranee Rajah said: “And if you need a transplant or bone marrow donation, it means that almost all the other avenues have been exhausted already. So the fact that you're willing to sign up for this, for people whom you may not even have met and don't know. But it gives them the assurance and the knowledge that somewhere out there, there is somebody who can offer them hope.”)
Ms Indranee Rajah praised Tzu Chi for its longstanding commitment to community care, noting its dedication to giving back to society with gratitude and putting the spirit of mutual support into practice.
BMDP Chief Operating Officer Ravindran called for everyone to support the bone marrow donation programme.
Mr Ravindran Nagalingam thanked Tzu Chi for its long-standing partnership with BMDP in his speech. He noted that it was especially meaningful for everyone to come together on the eve of Vesak Day, united by a shared spirit of compassion and giving.
He pointed out that Tzu Chi has been a key partner of BMDP. Since 1993, more than 3,000 donors have registered through Tzu Chi's outreach efforts. This year, one of these donors successfully donated bone marrow, bringing renewed hope to a patient in need.
BMDP's registry currently has over 129,000 volunteer donors and is connected to registries worldwide, including the Buddhist Tzu Chi Stem Cells Center in Taiwan, offering blood disorder patients a chance to find a life-saving match. However, the probability of finding a suitable match remains extremely low, at about one in 20,000, and is further limited by the narrow eligible donor age range of 18 to 49. Therefore, Mr Ravindran called on more young people to register and encouraged the public to share the message of bone marrow donation with family and friends. A simple conversation, he said, could sometimes lead to a life-saving match.
Witnessing True Stories of a Second Chance at Life
Over the years, countless patients have gained a new lease on life through cross-border bone marrow registries. Among them, Dr Frederick Yeo and Yeo Ser Sen took the stage to share their personal journeys, deeply moving the audience.
Dr Frederick Yeo is the son of George Yeo, Singapore's former Minister for Foreign Affairs. At the age of three, Frederick was diagnosed with leukaemia and given only a 20% chance of survival. His family took him to the United States for treatment that lasted a decade. In 2004, through Tzu Chi's bone marrow registry, Frederick was matched with a donor, Mr Huang, from Taiwan. Following the transplant, he regained his health.
Recipient Dr Frederick Yeo shared his rebirth experience.
Today, Frederick has completed his studies and is now a doctor. He shared that, out of gratitude, his mother founded the VIVA Foundation 20 years ago to help children with leukaemia both locally and abroad. Today, he works with the foundation, repaying the world's great love through his actions.
Speaking of Mr Huang, his donor, Frederick said emotionally, "He is my other father, the one who gave me a second chance at life."
Frederick had just returned from the Tzu Chi Jing Si Abode in Hualien, where he met his 71-year-old "benefactor father." When Mr Huang saw Frederick, he simply repeated, "As long as you are healthy", which deeply moved Frederick. For this reason, being back at Jing Si Hall in Singapore also felt especially close to his heart.
Another recipient, Yeo Ser Sen, recalled that seven years ago, while visiting China, he suddenly developed a high fever and his haemoglobin levels dropped sharply. At first, he thought it was just a common cold. However, after consulting several doctors, he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).
Bone marrow recipient Yeo Ser Sen (left), guided by the host, shared his journey from diagnosis and cross-border matching to undergoing two transplants.
The doctors told him that his condition was critical and that only a bone marrow transplant could save his life. After returning to Singapore and trying various treatments, he eventually found a matching donor in China through the BMDP global database and underwent the transplant in December 2019. However, six months later, he relapsed and required a second transplant.
Today, Yeo Ser Sen has been on the road to recovery for four and a half years.
Bone Marrow Donation Saves Lives Without Harming the Donor
Zhang Xinyue, a two-time successful donor of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), has since joined BMDP as a volunteer and is now actively involved in outreach for the donation programme.
She recalled coming across an outreach event at an MRT station in 2014 and registering on the spot. In 2020, she was notified of a match, which initially caused her mother concern. However, after patiently explaining the donation process, she gained her family's support.
Zhang Xinyue shared, "Six people are diagnosed daily with blood-related disorders, and every month, around 50 patients are waiting for bone marrow transplants."
She also took the opportunity to clarify common misconceptions about bone marrow donation. She explained that modern donation methods typically use peripheral blood stem cell collection, which does not require surgical extraction of bone marrow. Only about 5% of stem cells are collected, and the body usually recovers naturally within four to six weeks, with no long-term health effects.
She admitted that before becoming a donor, she did not pay much attention to her health. However, this experience changed her attitude towards life and made her cherish her physical and mental well-being more. "Whenever I face difficulties in life, I remind myself that I once had the chance to save a life, and that thought fills me with warmth and strength."
Zhang Xinyue shares her two successful bone marrow donation experiences.
Zhang Xinyue's sharing undoubtedly gave everyone present a boost of encouragement.
Among them was Ng Ai Ling, who visited Jing Si Hall for the first time. She said that although she had heard of the bone marrow donation programme before, she had not registered due to a lack of understanding. After listening to Zhang Xinyue's sharing, she was deeply moved: "I really want to learn from her. I hope that by registering as a donor, I too can have the opportunity to truly help someone in need."
Thirty Years of "Marrow Karmic Ties"
Ong Hui Ying, who has been leading Tzu Chi Singapore's bone marrow donation outreach since 2023, shared the historical background of Tzu Chi's involvement in bone marrow donation.
In 1993, Wen Wen-ling, a patient with leukaemia in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant, courageously spoke up and sought help from Venerable Master Cheng Yen in her fight for a chance at life. This pivotal moment led to a change in Taiwan's regulations at the time, which required bone marrow donors to be within the third degree of kinship. The subsequent amendment to the Human Organ Transplant Act paved the way for unrelated HSC donations.
In October 1993, the Tzu Chi Marrow Donor Registry was officially established, marking a significant milestone in the systematic promotion of haematopoietic stem cell donation within Chinese communities worldwide.
That same year, Tzu Chi Singapore assisted in the establishment of BMDP in Singapore. From 1994 to 2007, Tzu Chi and BMDP jointly organised numerous talks and blood-typing drives to promote marrow donation. In October 2022, the two organisations resumed their in-depth collaboration, allowing the "marrow karmic ties" that span three decades to continue taking root in Singapore.
Six young people registered as bone marrow donors on-site following the sharing session.
Honouring Life-Saving Donors and Inspiring More to Give
To express appreciation for the Tzu Chi volunteers who have quietly contributed over the years, Mr Ravindran, on behalf of BMDP, presented certificates of recognition to the volunteers who have safeguarded the hope of life and to the partners who have long supported bone marrow donation outreach.
Mr Ravindran (left), on behalf of BMDP, presented certificates of recognition to partners and Tzu Chi volunteers who have long supported bone marrow donation outreach.
Each certificate is not merely a token of appreciation but also a passing on of responsibility. Each handshake represents a relay of kindness.
Mr Beh Keng Hua, Deputy CEO of Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), drew upon the teachings of Venerable Master Cheng Yen to encourage the volunteers: "Kindness is not measured by its size, but by its consistency. Good deeds must be done together, for only then can we move and inspire one another."
Tzu Chi hopes that more members of the public between the ages of 18 and 49 will step forward to register as bone marrow donors, so that the light of life will not dim while waiting, and that great love will continue to flow, sustained by the collective commitment of all.
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