Stem Cell Donor Registration June 12, 2013

Community Rallies to Save Young Mother’s Life

Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association helps recruit stem cell and
blood donors for patients in need

 

 
Mother and elementary school teacher, Lori, is fighting Myelodyplastic Syndrome (MDS)and needs a stem cell donor to return to a healthy, happy life. Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association (KBBMA)was inspired to help Lori and nearly 1,000 other Canadians in need of stem cell transplants. Together with OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network and Canadian Blood Services, they are hosting an event to register new donors.

 

WHAT             In Honour of Lori stem cell donor registration and blood typing event
WHERE          Recreation Centre

242 Talbot Street, Essex

WHEN             Wednesday, June 12, 4pm – 8pm

June 10-16 marks National Blood Donor Week, and KBBMA alongside OneMatch and Canadian Blood Services are hoping the community will join them in celebrating by raising awareness of the importance of becoming a blood and stem cell donor and the meaning of the Blood Signal. The Blood Signal is a visual icon intended to connect people to the idea of giving blood, rallying communities to come together and save lives.

Lori’s MDS diagnosis means that she will need to rely on blood donations while a search for her matching stem cell donor in underway.

Stem cells from young and male donors are optimal for patients like Lori because they can have better post-transplant results and fewer chances of complications. Patients are most likely to find their matching donor with someone of similar ethnic background. This is why more ethnically diverse donors are needed to register with OneMatch to help all patients in need.

Of more than 340,000 Canadians currently registered on the network, 75 per cent are Caucasian and only 25 per cent are from Canada’s many diverse ethnic groups. There is an immediate need for more donors, especially young men ages 17-35 from various ethnic backgrounds.

OneMatch and Canadian Blood Services are encouraging young, healthy, ethnically diverse donors to register to help all patients in need. Blood donors are needed to help patients. Their donations can be life-saving.

Visit the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association www.givemarrow.net  or @ 519-564-4119.

For more information on becoming a stem cell donor, please go to www.onematch.ca. 

Please visit Canadian Blood Services online at www.blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to book an appointment to donate in honour of Lori.

by Tim Fairhurst Biz X Magazine

Read Biz X Magazine Here