SINGAPORE - Seven national bowlers signed up to be bone marrow donors on Thursday (June 9) in support of Project Tomorrow, an initiative by the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP).

Six of the keglers - Shayna Ng, Jazreel Tan, Cherie Tan, Daphne Tan, New Hui Fen and Bernice Lim - took cheek swabs, which allows the potential donors' DNA to be profiled with simple markers, before they are entered into the donor database.

Joey Yeo, who picked up an injury on Wednesday, was unable to join them but registered for a postal kit to be delivered to her home.

Project Tomorrow, which was launched in April, is the largest recruitment campaign launched by the BMDP. It aims to recruit 50,000 new Singaporean donors by 2018, to add to the 62,000 that were on the national register when the campaign was launched.

There is only a one in 20,000 chance for a potential bone marrow recipient to find a matching donor.

Ng, who won the gold at the World Women's Bowling Championships All Events category in Abu Dhabi last December, said: "I was mistaken in the past about how complicated the donation process was; it is actually very simple.

"My small contribution (as a donor) can be so meaningful to someone in need."

Added Lim, who won the USBC Queens PWBA Tour Stop in Las Vegas last month: "It's a very humbling experience to know that a simple donation can potentially save someone else's life and give them a second chance to chase their dreams."

Members of the public who wish to sign up as bone marrow donors may request for a postal kit at bmdp.org.