National Stem Cell Awareness Week from Nov. 16 to 21 is striving to raise awareness of the fact that over 800 Canadian patients are currently searching for life-saving stem cell matches.
This past Monday, OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, the Canadian Blood Services’ stem cell program, launched National Stem Cell Awareness Week with its Partners Uniting Lives campaign.
Partners Uniting Lives highlights the vital link between stem cell donors, transplant centres, diverse communities and the hundreds of patients in Canada desperately hoping for a stem cell transplant.
Only 30 per cent of patients in need of a stem cell transplant will find a match within their own family; the rest turn to OneMatch. The network is currently searching for stem cell matches for over 800 patients across the country – patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses such leukemia, aplastic anaemia or various immune disorders.
The quickest way in which to register as a possible stem cell donor is through the online registration form at www.onematch.ca. You can also call Canadian Blood Services at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283) to have a registration package mailed to your address.
