“Flame of Life” to Light Up Nearly 100 Cities Across Russia! FMBA of Russia Launches Nationwide “Flame of Life” Relay to Support Bone Marrow Donation

The Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia (FMBA) has announced the launch of a major nationwide relay titled “Flame of Life.” The initiative aims to attract new donors to the Federal Bone Marrow Donor Registry and increase the chances of saving patients battling leukemia and other serious illnesses.

The torch of the “Flame of Life” relay will be lit on April 8, marking the start of a journey that will unite all regions of Russia. The first city on the route is Maykop. In total, the relay will pass through 97 cities, including Volgograd, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Nizhny Novgorod, Saint Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Sochi, Sevastopol, as well as cities in the DPR, LPR, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The relay will conclude in Moscow in November.

The event is organized by the FMBA of Russia, the Flame of Life Social Initiatives Foundation, and the Impact Charitable Foundation. Today, the parties signed a cooperation agreement during a press event hosted by TASS.

“For over 15 years, the Federal Medical-Biological Agency has served as the national coordinator of organizations within Russia’s Blood Service. Since 2022, following a directive from the President of the Russian Federation, the FMBA has also managed the Federal Registry of Bone Marrow and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors,” said Igor Borisevich, Deputy Head of the FMBA of Russia.

“This agreement is not just a formality—it represents a vital step toward our shared goal: to bring together thousands of young, healthy, and engaged citizens willing to join the national registry. Growing the registry is a mission of immense social importance, and the FMBA of Russia is proud to be at the forefront of this effort.”

In each of the 97 cities, the relay will feature donor drives, lectures, and public events. A key objective is to debunk myths about bone marrow donation and inspire people to join the cause.

As of today, the Federal Bone Marrow Donor Registry includes over 450,000 potential donors. Yet the probability of finding a genetically compatible match is just 1 in 10,000. Participation in the “Flame of Life” relay offers a real opportunity to expand the registry and give hope to those in critical need. Every new donor entry increases the chance of finding a genetic twin and saving a life.