OneMatch Swab Event to Register Potential Stem Cell Donors April 11, 2010

A stem cell donation could be the last chance of survival for patients around the world fighting Leukemia and Lymphoma among many disorders of the blood. In Canada alone, about 30 South Asian patients are actively looking for a stem cell donation to survive. Their chances of finding a good match are highest from members of their own ethnic community. In Canada, there is a registry for potential donors, but currently 82% of registrants are Caucasian. Members from ethnic minority groups are severely under-represented.

You can help by becoming a potential donor by joining OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network - Canadian Blood Services. OneMatch and volunteers from South Asians for Life (SA4L) will be working with the Ismaili Health Board to increase the number of potential stem cell donors at the Ismaili Health Fair this year.

Registration involves a safe, painless, quick, and non-invasive process to collect a buccal swab sample and answering a few simple questions. The entire process takes about 10 minutes.

If you are ever called upon to be a donor, the most commonly used procedure (PBSC donation) is much like donating blood, and is an easy, harmless process; the stem cells you donate grow back in 4-6 weeks.

Please join us at the Ismaili Health Fair on April 11th, 2010 between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm. You could be the ONE MATCH to save a life!