7 ways to support MD Anderson

If you’re eager to give back to MD Anderson — whether because the treatment you received here extended your life or those of the people you love — you’re not alone. 

But donating money is just one way to support MD Anderson. There are plenty of other ways you can help advance our mission to end cancer.

Here are six more ways to support MD Anderson that you might not have considered.

Donate blood or platelets

Our patients rely on people just like you to supply the blood they need during cancer treatment. Your donation could be used to improve cell counts due to chemotherapy and radiation, replace blood lost during surgery, or replenish the cells that the body can’t make itself.

But the only way to make sure your blood donation will benefit MD Anderson patients is by donating at one of MD Anderson Blood Bank’s many Houston area locations or community blood drives. Whole blood can be donated as frequently as every eight weeks — or about six times a year. Platelets can be donated as often as every seven days.

“It feels great to know that I might be helping one of our patients while they’re undergoing cancer treatment, especially during severe blood shortages,” says Maria Gabrido, an assistant nurse manager who donates here regularly. “Not everyone is eligible to donate blood, so I feel very blessed.”  

Make an appointment to donate today. 

Wear MD Anderson merchandise

What could be easier than throwing on a T-shirt or zipping up a hoodie? If you sport some of our branded merchandise, you could be a walking billboard for MD Anderson just by getting dressed in the morning.  

Senior occupational therapist Sydney Barrera loves her job here so much that she owns about 10 different branded items, including a pair of leggings, two T-shirts, a hat and a couple of jackets. 

“I’m proud to represent MD Anderson,” she says. “When I wear our merchandise out in public, people often share stories about their positive experiences here. Our brand is highly recognizable and known for its excellence.” 

Clothing options range from sweatshirts and puffy jackets for chilly days to scarves and silk neckties for business meetings. You can also buy UPF-rated sun protective items, such as hats and leggings. But if you’re all set for clothing, totes, backpacks, mugs and umbrellas are also available. 

Shop online or find MD Anderson-branded gear in our gift shops on MD Anderson's Texas Medical Center Campus.  

Volunteer at MD Anderson

Recall, for a moment, the early days after your own or a loved one’s cancer diagnosis, when a friendly smile or a helping hand would have been extremely welcome while navigating an unfamiliar hospital system. Then, consider providing both of those things to others by becoming an on-site volunteer.  

MD Anderson has more than 300 on-site volunteers spread across our campuses. Some offer blankets, coffee and conversation at Cancer Connection, a convenient rest stop for patients and caregivers between appointments. Others provide hope and comfort to patients in their hospital rooms. Still others provide a friendly face to people who need help, and either give them directions or accompany them to their destinations.

Assisting campus visitors is the underlying goal of this program, but volunteers often find that they get more out of the experience than they give.  

“I feel a lot lighter after helping people,” says Irabor Oshotse, an aspiring medical student who’s volunteering at MD Anderson during his gap year. “So, it not only helps them; it helps me, too.”

More than 40 different roles are available for volunteers to choose from. But you can also volunteer through myCancerConnection, MD Anderson’s one-on-one support community for patients, caregivers and survivors. 

Attend a volunteer preview orientation or complete a myCancerConnection application to learn more. 

Apply to become a Patient and Family Advisor Program member

What could be more rewarding than helping a hospital improve the experience it provides for patients? 

That’s precisely what you’d do as a member of our Patient and Family Advisor Program (PFAP). This group of former patients and caregivers serves on committees at MD Anderson, providing candid feedback and an insider’s perspective that’s priceless to our leaders. Its goal? To make treatment here both safer and more pleasant.

“I love everything about MD Anderson, but there are always opportunities to improve,” notes Lisa Nicks, a PFAP member whose father received treatment here for B-cell lymphoma. “One of the things we did was expand the hours during which patients could take a shuttle between the Main Building and the Mays Clinic. The best part of being on a committee was realizing we could make a difference.”

Email the Patient Experience team for more information. 

Fundraise for MD Anderson

Even if you can’t afford to make a donation yourself, your friends and family might be able to. So, ask them! Here are just two of the many ways to do this. 

Join MD Anderson’s Boot Walk to End Cancer

Sign up for MD Anderson Boot Walk to End Cancer® and help us give cancer the boot. This annual event raises money each fall to support patient programs, research, prevention and education initiatives here at MD Anderson. Teams that raise $25,000 or more and individuals who raise $10,000 or more can specify exactly where their funds will go.

“If anyone’s going to crack the code, it’s going to be MD Anderson,” says Kathleen Perley, who participates in the Boot Walk in honor of her late mother, Eileen Campbell. “That's why funding and fundraising are so important.”

Learn about the Boot Walk.

Set up a DIY fundraiser

The Boot Walk only comes around once a year. But you can raise money for MD Anderson any time, by putting together a do-it-yourself (DIY) fundraiser.  

Whether it’s a bake sale on your birthday, a casual golf tournament with buddies, or a memorial page for someone you’ve loved and lost, every dollar you raise will go to MD Anderson programs.

Learn more about DIY fundraisers. 

Spread the word about MD Anderson

Want a simple, impactful way you can support our mission to end cancer right now? Help spread the word about MD Anderson.

Share MD Anderson stories and information online

Share information and stories from MD Anderson with your friends, family and online connections. Follow MD Anderson's official social media accounts, and share stories, videos and updates with your friends and followers. Or share articles you read here on our Cancerwise blog.

You also can subscribe to our Cancerwise podcast and share it with friends and family. And be sure to subscribe to our email newsletters and forward interesting stories and updates to friends and family. Encourage them to subscribe, too, so they don't miss any updates.

Share your MD Anderson story

Learning how you or a loved one overcame cancer here might be just the thing someone else needs to reclaim hope — and, that is priceless. So use your voice to tell others about your MD Anderson story. You can share your story online with us.

“Ronnie was a retired police officer, and I’m a retired teacher,” says Brenda Speidel, whose late husband came here for stage IV bladder cancer treatment. “We weren’t wealthy people. So, we couldn’t thank MD Anderson in the way we wanted to. But MD Anderson gave us 10 extra years together. They gave us that. That’s why I’m sharing my story. And, it’s why I’ll promote MD Anderson until my dying day.” 

Remember, every action you take and every gift you make, no matter how small, helps advance our mission to end cancer. Learn how you can help at OnlyPossibleHere.org.