How SV Ried saved the life of a man from Denmark

In order to find life-saving stem cells for leukemia patients, SV Guntamatic Ried organized a typing campaign as part of a Bundesliga game against Salzburg in October 2021. A suitable stem cell donor was found in Tobias Grahl from Bavaria – he saved the life of a man from Denmark, as the club has now announced. As a small thank you, he was presented with a SV Guntamatic Ried jersey at the most recent home game against FAC in the Innviertel Arena.

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“It was a matter of course for us at the time that we would support this campaign by the ‘Give for Life’ Leukemia Aid Austria in the best possible way. Many visitors took part in the campaign and had their stem cells typed. It was a very special joy for all of us that we were able to find the right and life-saving stem cells for a middle-aged man from Denmark. It’s nice when the most important minor thing in the world can help. I would also like to thank Tobias Grahl for having himself typed and thereby saving a human life,” emphasizes SVR managing director Rainer Wöllinger.

“It was quick and easy”

“I was at the action in the stadium and that’s why I had myself typecast. I did it for the first time, it was very quick and easy,” explains Tobias Grahl. “A little later I was contacted that I would be a suitable donor. I was informed about the process during a conversation at the center for stem cell donation in Munich, and a few weeks later I gave the stem cell donation. I’m very happy that it worked out so well. It wasn’t a big effort for me and I hope that I was able to give the man a chance to live happily ever after.”