July 2026 Bone Marrow, Stem-Cell, and Blood-Cancer Events to Watch

If you care about blood-cancer patients and the search for matching donors, July 2026 is a full and hopeful month. Around the world, hospitals, registries, research societies, and everyday volunteers are holding awareness campaigns, charity treks, and community donor drives — many of them focused on the same goal: helping more people join the donor registry so more patients can find a match.

Below is a simple, date-ordered guide to real events happening this July. For each one, we note who is organizing it and, where a blood-cancer nonprofit is involved as a charity partner, we say so plainly. The Jada Bascom Foundation does not host or sponsor these events — we are sharing them because they matter, and because they show how many ways there are to get involved.

A quick, important note on who we are: the Jada Bascom Foundation is a referrer, not a registry. We help people understand donation and connect them with the right donor registry for their region. We do not mail swab kits, run a registry, do HLA typing, store donor records, or decide who is eligible. For medical and eligibility questions, we point you to trusted sources like the American Cancer Society (ACS), NMDP (formerly Be The Match), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

All month long: July 2026 awareness observances

Several observances run the entire month and set the tone for everything else.

National Cord Blood Awareness Month. July is recognized as National Cord Blood Awareness Month, highlighted by groups such as the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB). Umbilical cord blood is a source of blood-forming stem cells that can be used in certain transplants, and the month encourages families to learn about donation options.
African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month. Historically observed by NMDP (formerly Be The Match), July draws attention to a real and stubborn gap: patients from Black and African American backgrounds are less likely to find a fully matched unrelated donor, in part because the registry does not yet reflect the diversity of the patients who need it. NMDP publishes current statistics on this disparity.
Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recognizes July as Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month, spotlighting research progress for cancers that begin in bone and connective tissue.
Hemochromatosis Screening and Awareness Month. July also serves as an annual awareness period for hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron-overload condition — a reminder of how broad the "blood health" umbrella really is.

Jul 4–5: Peak District Challenge (Bakewell, UK)

The Peak District Challenge is a weekend trekking event based out of Bakewell, organized by the events company Action Challenge. Anthony Nolan — the UK blood-cancer and stem-cell charity — is a charity partner, meaning walkers and runners can take on the route while fundraising for its lifesaving work. It is a lovely example of turning a physical challenge into support for patients.

Jul 8 and Jul 22: DKMS donor drives (Union Township, NJ)

On two Wednesdays in July, blood-cancer survivor Gini Beltran is leading DKMS stem-cell donor registration drives at the Union Township Wednesday Night Summer Series in New Jersey. These community drives, organized in partnership with DKMS, invite eligible attendees to learn about joining the stem-cell registry in a relaxed, festival-style setting. Survivor-led drives like these are often the most persuasive of all — the person asking you to sign up has lived the story.

Jul 12: Saucony London 10K — cheer on Team DKMS

The Saucony London 10K is a major city race, and DKMS UK is one of its charity partners. Registration for the 2026 event closed after selling out quickly, so this one is less "sign up" and more "show up": if you are in London, cheer on Team DKMS runners as they raise money and awareness for blood-cancer patients.

Jul 15: Glioblastoma Awareness Day

Observed on the third Wednesday of July — July 15 in 2026 — Glioblastoma Awareness Day honors people living with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, and the families and researchers working on their behalf. While glioblastoma is not a blood cancer, the day is part of the wider July cancer-awareness calendar and a moment many in our community mark with solidarity.

Jul 17: Singing River Health System + Team Cate drives (Mississippi)

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Singing River Health System, working with Team Cate, is hosting bone-marrow donor registration drives in Mississippi. Hospital-hosted drives are a natural fit: they meet people where health is already top of mind, and they make it easy to ask a simple question — would you be willing to be someone's match?

Jul 18–19: Gower Peninsula Challenge (Wales)

Another Action Challenge trekking weekend, the Gower Peninsula Challenge takes place along the coast of South Wales. Anthony Nolan is again a charity partner, giving participants the option to walk or run the route while fundraising for blood-cancer and blood-disorder patients.

Jul 21: "Lifesavers and Laughs" DKMS drive + comedy (St. Petersburg, FL)

Proof that donor recruitment can be genuinely fun: "Lifesavers and Laughs" pairs a DKMS donor drive (5:30–7 p.m.) with a comedy event in St. Petersburg, Florida. The format lowers the barrier to entry — you come for the laughs, you leave having learned how to join the registry. Community organizers deserve a lot of credit for creative approaches like this.

Jul 25–26: 34th Annual Scenic Shore Bike Tour (Wisconsin)

Now in its 34th year, the Scenic Shore Bike Tour is a beloved cycling fundraiser organized by Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). The 2026 ride runs July 25–26 along the Lake Michigan shoreline, starting in Mequon and continuing north toward Sturgeon Bay, with route options for a range of abilities. Riders fundraise for blood-cancer research and patient support as they go.

Jul 27: World Head and Neck Cancer Day

Declared by the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS), World Head and Neck Cancer Day on July 27 unites dozens of professional societies and countries to raise awareness of head and neck cancers and the importance of early detection.

Jul 28: World Hepatitis Day

Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Hepatitis Day on July 28 promotes the prevention, testing, and treatment of viral hepatitis worldwide. Because untreated hepatitis can affect the liver and overall health, it is a meaningful part of the month's broader health conversation.

Late July: ASTCT–NMDP ACCESS Initiative Summer Workshop (professional event)

Rounding out the month, the ASTCT–NMDP ACCESS Initiative — a collaboration between the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and NMDP — holds a summer workshop focused on reducing disparities in access to and outcomes from blood stem-cell transplant and cellular therapy. This is a professional, sector-facing gathering for clinicians, researchers, and advocates rather than a public "join us" event. We mention it as context: a lot of the equity work that shapes donor recruitment happens in rooms like these.

How these connect to donor recruitment

At first glance, a bike tour in Wisconsin, a comedy night in Florida, and a research workshop have little in common. But they are all part of the same chain that gives a patient a chance.

Every blood-cancer transplant that relies on an unrelated donor depends on two things: a large, diverse registry, and people who understand the process well enough to say yes. Awareness months put the need in front of the public. Charity treks and rides fund research and patient support. And community donor drives — the survivor-led drives in New Jersey, the hospital drives in Mississippi, the comedy-plus-swab night in St. Petersburg — are where an ordinary person actually joins the registry.

The gap is real. According to NMDP, patients from many ethnic backgrounds, and Black and African American patients in particular, are significantly less likely to find a fully matched unrelated donor than white patients — which is exactly why events built around diverse communities matter so much. (For the current match statistics, we always point to NMDP directly rather than repeating numbers as if they were our own.)

The Jada Bascom Foundation's role in that chain is simple and specific: we help people learn how donation works, answer their questions honestly, and connect them with the right registry for their region. We do not run a registry or decide eligibility. Events like July's are the moments where curiosity turns into commitment — and we love pointing people toward them.

Want to do more than watch? Host your own drive

If reading this list makes you want to act rather than observe, you can. Hosting a registration drive is one of the highest-impact things a volunteer can do, and you do not need to be a medical professional to do it. Schools, workplaces, faith communities, sports teams, and families all make great hosts.

We will walk you through planning, share educational materials, and connect you with the appropriate registry for your area — that last part is key, because we are the referrer, not the registry. Ready to start? Learn how at our host a registration drive page.

However you choose to take part this July — cheering on Team DKMS in London, riding toward Sturgeon Bay, laughing along in St. Petersburg, or simply sharing an awareness post — thank you. Every conversation about donation brings someone's match a little closer.

Frequently asked questions

What bone marrow and blood-cancer events happen in July 2026?

July 2026 includes month-long awareness observances (National Cord Blood Awareness Month, African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month, Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month, and Hemochromatosis Screening and Awareness Month) plus dated events: the Peak District Challenge (Jul 4–5), DKMS drives in Union Township NJ (Jul 8 and Jul 22), the Saucony London 10K (Jul 12), Glioblastoma Awareness Day (Jul 15), Singing River + Team Cate drives in Mississippi (Jul 17), the Gower Peninsula Challenge (Jul 18–19), a DKMS 'Lifesavers and Laughs' drive in St. Petersburg FL (Jul 21), the 34th Scenic Shore Bike Tour in Wisconsin (Jul 25–26), World Head and Neck Cancer Day (Jul 27), and World Hepatitis Day (Jul 28).

Does the Jada Bascom Foundation host or sponsor these July events?

No. The Foundation does not host or sponsor any of these events. We are sharing them because they matter to the blood-cancer community. Each event is organized by the group named — for example, Blood Cancer United, DKMS, Anthony Nolan, Singing River Health System, or the observance's sponsoring organization.

Is the Jada Bascom Foundation a donor registry?

No. The Foundation is a referrer, not a registry. We help people understand donation and connect them with the appropriate registry for their region. We do not mail swab kits, run a registry, perform HLA typing, store donor records, or decide eligibility. For medical and eligibility questions, we point to trusted sources such as ACS, NMDP (formerly Be The Match), and HRSA.

Can I still take part in the Saucony London 10K for DKMS?

Registration for the 2026 Saucony London 10K closed after selling out, so joining as a runner is no longer available. If you are in London, you can still show up to cheer on Team DKMS and support their fundraising for blood-cancer patients.

How can I host my own bone marrow registration drive?

Anyone can host — schools, workplaces, faith communities, sports teams, and families all make great hosts. The Foundation provides planning guidance and educational materials and connects you with the appropriate registry for your area. Start at our host a registration drive page: /volunteer/registration-drives.