Over 12,000 new bone marrow donors registered themselves in Cyprus last year, the Karaiskakio Foundation announced on Tuesday.

The non-profit organisation, established to create a volunteer bone marrow donor registry, said 12,439 new donors were registered in their archives in 2023.

Meanwhile, 59 transplants were carried out in 16 countries: Cyprus, Italy, USA, Germany, Greece, Romania, France, England, Poland, Bulgaria, Iran, Australia, Canada, Holland, Spain, and Russia, giving patients a second chance at life.

The Karaiskakio bone marrow donors registry is internationally recognised and represents the biggest per capita donor registry worldwide.