On 1st October 2012 we took the pioneering decision to change our joining policy to allow 16 year olds to join the register, making us the first bone marrow register in the world to do so. In the first ten weeks of the new policy, we have recorded an incredible 8292 online applications – an increase of 25% on the same period last year. Of those who have applied to join the register, well over 50% (4468) are aged 16-22.